• Retired from acting in 2017
• Attended Buckley School and Guildford College in England
• Started acting career at age 8
• Has been married 3 times
• Has a net worth of $1.5 million
Known for movies
The Love Boat (1978-1987)
as Vicki Stubing
Airplane! (1980)
as Lisa Davis
A Christmas Tree Miracle (2013)
as Cindy Cruthers
The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage (1990)
as Vicki
Short Info
| Date Of Birth | September 29, 1966 |
| Spouse | Michael Chaykowsky, Brad St. John |
| Fact | Seen on informercials for Ron Popeil's RONCO Rotisserie -- i.e. "Set it and forget it!". [2002] |
Contents
Where is Jill Whelan today? Wiki Bio
Jill E. Whelan was born in Oakland, California USA, on 29 September 1966 – her zodiac sign is Libra and she holds American nationality. She is an actress, best known for portraying Vicki Stubing in the comedy drama series “The Love Boat” which starred Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell and Ted Lange and which follows lives of the people aboard the cruiser Pacific Princess. Jill was shooting for the series from 1977 to 1987 when it ended, and the show was nominated for eight Golden Globe Awards, winning four and being nominated for 13 others.
It appears that Jill has retired from acting, as her latest role was in 2017.
Early life and education
Jill was raised as a single child in Oakland, by her father who was a businessman and her mother who was a nurse. Jill became interested in acting at a very early age, and was only eight years old when she starred in the school play “The King and I” – after being praised for her performance, she was signed by a talent agency in San Francisco, and started by appearing in commercials. After starring in a commercial for M&M, she was invited to star in the children comedy drama series “Friends” in 1979, but the show was soon cancelled.
She attended Buckley School, where she was a member of the school’s drama club, and appeared in nearly all the plays performed there.
After matriculation in 1984, she enrolled at Guildford College in England studying English Literature for a year, before deciding to quit and move back to Los Angeles to focus on her career as an actress.
Career as an actress
In 1980, Jill played Lisa Davis in the comedy movie “Airplane!” which starred Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty, and which follows a man scared of flying who has to land a ‘plane after the pilots become ill. The movie was a hit, and was nominated for a Golden Globe award, while it won two other awards and was nominated for six others. In the same year, Jill portrayed Marki Drummond in the TV series “Vega$”.
In 1982, Julie guest starred as Molly Launders in the episode “Who Would Kill Ramona” of the series “Matt Houston”, before being invited to portray three characters in the adventure comedy series “Fantasy Island”, becoming a member of the main cast from 1978 to 1983 when the series ended. She went on to star in single episodes of several series, such as “Trapper John, M. D.” in 1983, “Divorce Court” in 1984, and “CBS School Break Special” in 1986.
In 1987, Jill portrayed Cindy Grames in an episode of the crime drama series “The Law and Harry McGraw” which starred Jerry Orbach, Barbara Babcock and Earl Boen, and which follows a private investigator who is solving crimes in Boston.
Jill was then invited to guest star in single episodes of several series such as “Martin”, “The Young and the Restless”, and “Diagnosis Murder”, while she also appeared in the movie “The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage”.
The year 1998 saw her appear in the series’ “Love Boat: The Next Wave” and “The New Adventures of Robin Hood”, as well as in the short musical film “Sandman”. Jill took the following 11 years to focus on her family, so her next role wasn’t until 2009, in the short movie “Looking For”. She portrayed Jill Hudson in the horror movie “6 Degrees of Hell” in 2012, which starred Corey Feldman, Brian Anthony Wilson and Nicole Cinaglia, and follows six people who find themselves in the heart of a supernatural storm.
She went on to appear in the film “A Christmas Tree Miracle” in 2013, in two episodes of the series “The Bold and the Beautiful” in 2014, and the episode “Broad Talk” of the series “Real Husbands of Hollywood” in 2015.
Some of Jill’s latest roles have been in the thriller movie “Wrong Swipe” and the series “Criminal Minds” both in 2016, and in the movie “Take It from the Top” in 2017.
Love life and relationships
Jill met Brad St. John in 1992, while he was working in Los Angeles for the United Paramount Network News as their associate producer. They started dating and after less than two years together, they married in December 1993 at an event attended by the two’s closest friends and family.
In 1994, Jill gave birth to their son Harrison St. John.
Jill and Brad divorced in 2001 for unknown reasons, and Jill then married Michael Chaykowsky on 2 April 2004 on the cruise ship Caribbean Princess. She gave birth to their son Grant Chaykowsky in 2006, but the two divorced after 10 years of marriage in the summer of 2014. On 30 September 2017, she married Jeff Scott Knapple who is a former American Football player, best known for the time he spent with the Denver Broncos competing in the National Football League (NFL).
Jeff is 10 years Jill’s senior and the two have been living together for nearly three years now without any controversies or rumors surrounding their marriage.
Hobbies and other interests
Jill has been against the use of drugs since she was a teenager, and later used her fame to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs, also serving as the national spokesperson for the program “Say No to Drugs” created by Nancy Reagan, the second wife of the 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan.
Jill likes to teach children and teenagers how to act, and opened her own acting school in January 2010 in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Jill enjoys travelling, and has been all around the US to shoot for her movies and TV series, while she’s also been to Europe on several occasions, and has visited countries such as England, France and Germany.
Some of Jill’s favorite actors and actresses are Elvis Presley, Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep, while some of her favorite movies are the trilogy “The Godfather”, “Viva Las Vegas”, and “Schindler’s List” among others.
Appearance and net worth
Jill is 53 years old. She has long blonde hair and blue eyes, is 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, and weighs around 128lbs (58kgs). As of April 2020, her net worth is estimated at over $1.5 million.
General Info
| Full Name | Jill Whelan |
| Date Of Birth | September 29, 1966 |
| Profession | Actor, Singer, Radio personality |
| Education | Buckley School, Guildford College |
| Nationality | American |
Family
| Spouse | Michael Chaykowsky, Brad St. John |
| Parents | Carol Garrett, Charles Whelan |
| Siblings | Nancy Whelan |
Accomplishments
| Awards | TV Land Fan Favorite Award |
| Movies | Wrong Swipe, 6 Degrees of Hell, Airplane! |
| TV Shows | The Love Boat, Friends |
Social profile links
Facts
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Has her own line of Jewelry [June 2002] |
| 2 | She co-hosts a radio talk show in Philadelphia. [January 2006] |
| 3 | It was announced that she will marry fiance Michael Chaykowsky on April 2, 2004, aboard the new cruise ship Caribbean Princess. [December 2003] |
| 4 | Owns her own Acting School in Greater Philadelphia area. [January 2010] |
| 5 | Was the national spokesperson for Nancy Reagan's "Say No to Drugs" program. |
| 6 | Was number 66 on VH1's The Greatest: 100 Greatest Kid Stars (2005). |
| 7 | Seen on informercials for Ron Popeil's RONCO Rotisserie -- i.e. "Set it and forget it!". [2002] |
| 8 | She started out in an M&M's commercial as one of the M&M's gang kids. |
| 9 | Attended Smith School in Livermore California in the 6th grade. |
Pictures
Movies
Actress
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take It from the Top | 2017/II | TV Movie | Jill |
| Criminal Minds | 2016 | TV Series | Principal Vicki Dahl |
| Wrong Swipe | 2016 | TV Movie | Jill |
| Real Husbands of Hollywood | 2015 | TV Series | Karen |
| The Bold and the Beautiful | 2015 | TV Series | Diane |
| A Christmas Tree Miracle | 2013 | Cindy Cruthers | |
| 6 Degrees of Hell | 2012 | Jill Hudson | |
| Looking For | 2009 | Short | Sally Jones |
| Sandman | 1998 | Ginger Ice | |
| The New Adventures of Robin Hood | 1998 | TV Series | Kyra Briggs |
| Love Boat: The Next Wave | 1998 | TV Series | Vicki Stubing |
| Diagnosis Murder | 1997 | TV Series | Nancy Stewart |
| The Young and the Restless | 1997 | TV Series | Karby Stalter |
| Martin | 1997 | TV Series | Vicki Stubing |
| The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage | 1990 | TV Movie | Vicki |
| The Law and Harry McGraw | 1987 | TV Series | Cindy Grimes |
| The Love Boat | 1978-1987 | TV Series | Vicki Stubing |
| CBS Schoolbreak Special | 1986 | TV Series | Mary Pat |
| Divorce Court | 1984 | TV Series | Attorney |
| The Love Boat Fall Preview Special | 1984 | TV Movie | Vicki Stubing |
| Trapper John, M.D. | 1983 | TV Series | Natalie |
| Fantasy Island | 1978-1983 | TV Series | Crystal Danning / Jodie Collins / Harmony |
| Matt Houston | 1982 | TV Series | Molly Launders |
| Vega$ | 1980 | TV Series | Marki Drummond |
| Airplane! | 1980 | Lisa Davis | |
| Friends | 1979 | TV Series | Nancy Wilks |
Writer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take It from the Top | 2017/II | TV Movie |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take It from the Top | 2017/II | TV Movie executive producer |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home & Family | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Herself |
| Celebrity Wife Swap | 2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| Today | 2008-2014 | TV Series | Herself - Guest / Herself |
| Sidewalks Entertainment | 2014 | TV Series | Guest / Herself |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2014 | TV Series | Herself - The Love Boat |
| Oprah: Where Are They Now? | 2014 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Talk | 2013 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The 8th Annual TV Land Awards | 2010 | TV Special | Herself |
| The O'Reilly Factor | 2008 | TV Series | Herself (segment "American TV Icon") |
| I Love the '70s: Volume 2 | 2006 | TV Series | Herself |
| I Love Toys | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| I Love the 80's 3-D | 2005 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Pyramid | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| Child Stars: Then and Now | 2003 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
| ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration | 2003 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
| Star Dates | 2002 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Love Boat: TV Tales | 2002 | TV Special | Herself |
| Weakest Link | 2001 | TV Series | Herself |
| Biography | 2001 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Entertainment Tonight Presents: The Love Boat - Secrets from the Ship | 2000 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Good vs Evil | 1999 | TV Series | Herself |
| All-Star Party for Aaron Spelling | 1998 | TV Special | Herself |
| Super Password | 1987 | TV Series | Herself - Celebrity Contestant |
| Star's Table | 1986 | TV Series | Herself |
| Body Language | 1985 | TV Series | Herself |
| The ABC All-Star Spectacular | 1985 | TV Movie | Herself - Host |
| 53rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade | 1984 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 36th Primetime Emmy Awards | 1984 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter: Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series & Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special |
| Battle of the Network Stars XV | 1983 | TV Special | Herself - ABC Team |
| The $10,000 Pyramid | 1983 | TV Series | Herself - Celebrity Contestant |
| Fantasy | 1982 | TV Series | |
| The 39th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1982 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
| All-Star Family Feud Special | 1980 | TV Series | Herself - Celebrity Contestant |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1978 | TV Series | Herself - Actress |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment Tonight | 2014 | TV Series | Herself - The Love Boat |
Awards
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Michael Landon Award | Young Artist Awards | CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984) | |
| 1983 | Young Artist Award | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actress in a Drama Series | The Love Boat (1977) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Young Artist Award | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | The Love Boat (1977) |
| 1985 | Young Artist Award | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actress in a Television Comedy Series | The Love Boat (1977) |
| 1984 | Young Artist Award | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series | The Love Boat (1977) |
| 1982 | Young Artist Award | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actress in a Television Series | The Love Boat (1977) |
| 1981 | Young Artist Award | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Comedienne | Airplane! (1980) |
| 1980 | Stinker Award | The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards | Worst Performance by a Child in a Featured Role | Airplane! (1980) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
