Jillian Kesner-Graver (August 9, 1949 – December 5, 2007), credited onscreen as Jillian Kesner, was an American actress and historian who worked with her husband, Gary Graver, to preserve the work and legacy of director Orson Welles. She was best known as an actress for playing Fonzie's girlfriend, Lorraine, on a 1977 episode of Happy Days.
Jillian Kesner-Graver | |
|---|---|
 Jillian Kesner with Michael Cavanaugh filming Inferno in 1996 | |
| Born | Jillian Kesner August 9, 1949 Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | December 5, 2007 (aged 58) Irvine, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, film historian |
| Years active | 1976–2006 |
| Spouse | |
Early life
Kesner-Graver was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. Her father was in the United States Navy and she spent much of her childhood in Denver, Colorado. She first moved to Los Angeles in 1959, where she worked as a model before getting into television and movie acting.[1]
Career
Kesner-Graver was best known for playing Fonzie's girlfriend, Lorraine, on Happy Days. She appeared in a number of "B-rated" films throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Her credits included Raw Force, Starhops and Beverly Hills Vamp. She developed a following among fans of B-level action films.
She appeared on a number of television shows, including Three's Company, The Rockford Files and Mork & Mindy. She met her husband, director and cinematographer, Gary Graver, on the set of the film The Student Body in 1976.
Death
Jillian Kesner-Graver died on December 5, 2007, in Irvine, California of complications from a staph infection, which she contracted after having been diagnosed with leukemia. She was 58 years old.[1]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | The Student Body | Carrie | |
| 1978 | Starhops | Angel | |
| 1980 | Ang agila at ang falcon | (English: The Eagle and The Falcon) | |
| 1981 | Firecracker | Susanne Carter | aka Naked Fist in Australia |
| 1982 | Raw Force | Cookie Winchell | aka Kung Fu Cannibals |
| Trick or Treats | Andrea | ||
| 1987 | Moon in Scorpio | Claire | |
| Evil Town | Dorothy | ||
| 1989 | Jaded | Sara | |
| Beverly Hills Vamp | Claudia | ||
| 1992 | Roots of Evil | Brenda | |
| 1997 | Operation Cobra | Jasmine | aka Inferno |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | S.W.A.T. | Miss California | Episode: "The Steel-Plated Security Blanket" |
| 1976 | The Blue Knight | Lady in swimsuit | Episode: "Bullseye" |
| Happy Days | Patty Petrolunga | Episode: "Fonzie the Superstar" | |
| 1977 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Paula Clark | Episode: "Mystery of the Solid Gold Kicker" |
| Happy Days | Lorraine | Episode: "Marion Rebels" | |
| 1979 | Co-ed Fever | Melba | Main cast |
| The Rockford Files | Lily Showalter | Episode: "No Fault Affair" | |
| The Ropers | Linda Graham | 2 episodes | |
| 1981 | Three's Company | The sister | Episode: "The Not-So-Great Imposter" |
| 1982 | Mork & Mindy | Judi | Episode: "Metamorphosis - The TV Show" |
| 1983 | T.J. Hooker | Crystal | Episode: "A Child Is Missing" |
| 1996 | Subliminal Seduction | Cherl | TV movie |
