Jill Viola Gascoine, a talented British actress, was born on April 11, 1937, in Lambeth, London. She began her career as a young chorine in pantomime and spent a decade honing her craft in revues and musicals. Despite facing personal challenges, including an abusive marriage and the need to support her children on her own, Gascoine persevered and eventually found success in acting.
Gascoine's breakthrough role came in 1971 as Letty, the wife of Captain Onedin, in the ITV series The Onedin Line. However, it was her portrayal of Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes in the ITV series The Gentle Touch that cemented her status as a household name. The show, which premiered in 1980, was a groundbreaking police drama featuring a female senior police officer, and Gascoine's performance earned her widespread acclaim.
In addition to her television work, Gascoine also had a successful stage career, appearing in numerous productions, including a 1987 revival of the musical 42nd Street at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, alongside a young Catherine Zeta-Jones. Gascoine was married to fellow actor Alfred Molina from 1986 until her passing and made her home in Los Angeles, although she continued to return to the UK on occasion.
As her acting career began to wind down, Gascoine turned to writing, publishing three novels in the late 1990s. She made a final appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2008, announcing her retirement from acting. Five years later, it was revealed that Gascoine had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. She passed away on April 28, 2020, at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and a lasting impact on the world of British television and theater.
