Jill Gascoine dead: The Gentle Touch star dies aged 83

by


Jill Gascoine died following a battle with Alzheimer’s (Picture: REX)

Jill Gascoine, star of The Gentle Touch, has died aged 83 following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

She had been living in a care home in Los Angeles at the time of her death.

The actor’s son Adam, confirmed her death on Tuesday, sharing an image to Facebook along with a statement.

He wrote: ‘My mum, Jill, died today at 3:33pm.

‘She suffered from Alzheimer’s for 10 years, so today was a thankful release. The family is all well, and relieved that she’s not suffering any more.’

He added: ‘There will not be a memorial for a good while due to the current climate. The family will reach out once details have been arranged. We will likely hold 2 services – one in London for the UK friends and family, and one in Los Angeles for the US side.


Mandatory Credit: Photo by Eric Charbonneau/REX (4377368e) BURBANK, CA - JULY 12: Alfred Molina and Jill Gascoine at a Special Screening of Disney's 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' Benefitting The Creative Visions Foundation at Walt Disney Studios on July 12, 2010 in Burbank, California. Special Screening of Disney's 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' Benefitting The Creative Visions Foundation
With husband Alfred Molina in 2010 (Picture: Eric Charbonneau/REX)

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Action Press/REX (2214974a) Alfred Molina and Jill Gascoine 21st Annual Night at Sardi's to Benefit the Alzheimer's Association, New York, America - 20 Mar 2013
The pair at an Alzheimer’s benefit in 2013 (Picture: Action Press/REX)

‘She was a wonderful human and a spirit of truth and absolute, unconditional love. There was no other.

‘I am happy she’s moved on. Please raise a glass. Be kind and love deeply!’

Hey all.My mum, Jill, died today at 3:33pm. She suffered from Alzheimer’s for 10 years, so today was a thankful…

Geplaatst door Adam Gascoine op Dinsdag 28 april 2020

The pioneering British actress was known for her roles in TV dramas The Gentle Touch and The Onedin Line.

In the 80s she played Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes in ITV’s The Gentle Touch, which was the first British police drama with a woman in the main role.


Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/REX (719194ru) Jill Gascoine - 1980s ITV ARCHIVE
The Gentle Touch launched Gascoine (Picture: ITV/REX)

The show was a huge ratings hit in the UK and ran for five series until 1984.

She continued Forbes’ character in spin-off C.A.T.S. Eyes, after also playing the role of Letty Onedin in The Onedin Line in the 70s.

Gascoine also starred in Z-Cars, General Hospital, Rooms and Dixon of Dock Green.

Not limited to the small screen, she appeared in films including King of the Wind with Richard Harris and Glenda Jackson and directed by Peter Duffell.

In 1997, Gascoine was diagnosed with kidney cancer. However, it was detected early, she made a full recovery.

In June 2013, Gascoine publicly revealed that she had Alzheimer’s disease, at a Beverly Hills gala which was set up to raise money to fight the condition.


Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/REX (1227426d) Jill Gascoine as DI Maggie Forbes 'The Gentle Touch' TV Programme. - - 1982
Jill appeared in TV and film (Picture: ITV/REX)

Three years later, her husband Alfred Molina – a fellow actor who has starred in Spider-Man 2 and The Da Vinci Code – reported that she was ‘in a very advanced stage of Alzheimer’s’, and had been in a specialist care home for over two years.

He previously told the Radio Times of his struggle to come to term with the debilitating illness, adding: ‘Not everyone can approach Alzheimer’s with the bravery that Terry Pratchett showed.’

Gascoine is survived by husband Alfred Molina, and her two sons from her first marriage, Adam and Sean.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

var fbApiInit = false; var awaitingReady = [];

var notifyQ = function () { var i = 0, l = awaitingReady.length; for (i = 0; i < l; i++) { awaitingReady[i](); } }; var ready = function (cb) { if (fbApiInit) { cb(); } else { awaitingReady.push(cb); } }; var checkLoaded = function () { return fbApiInit; }; window.fbAsyncInit = function () { FB.init({ appId: '176908729004638', xfbml: true, version: 'v2.10' }); fbApiInit = true; notifyQ(); }; return { 'ready' : ready, 'loaded' : checkLoaded }; })(); (function () { function injectFBSDK() { if ( window.fbApi && window.fbApi.loaded() ) return; var d = document, s = 'script', id = 'facebook-jssdk'; var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) { return; } js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.async = true; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); } /** * Only load fb sdk if we have GDPR consent or CMP is not required */ (window.requireConsent || Promise.resolve()).then(function(hasConsent) { if (hasConsent) { if ('object' === typeof metro) { window.addEventListener('metro:scroll', injectFBSDK, {once: true}); } else { window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', injectFBSDK, {once: true}); } } }); })();