The Gentle Touch actress Jill Gascoine dead: British actress, 83, loses 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease as family say they are ‘relieved she is not suffering anymore’
- The British actress played Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes in 1980s TV series The Gentle Touch, and starred in spin-off show C.A.T.S. Eyes
- Her son Adam confirmed her death, writing on Facebook on Wednesday: ‘She suffered from Alzheimer’s for 10 years, so today was a thankful release’
- The family will not be holding a memorial for a while due to the current coronavirus climate
- Jill had three children and was married to second husband, actor Alfred Molina
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Jill Gascoine has died aged 83 following a ten-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease as family say they are ‘relieved she is not suffering anymore.’
The British actress, best known for her TV role as Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes in 1980s TV series The Gentle Touch, and spin-off C.A.T.S. Eyes and The Onedin Line, was married to fellow TV star, Alfred Molina, 66.
Her son Adam confirmed her death, writing on Facebook on Wednesday morning: ‘She suffered from Alzheimer’s for 10 years, so today was a thankful release.
Sad news: The Gentle Touch actress Jill Gascoine has died aged 83 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease (pictured in 1996)
Acclaimed: Jill was perhaps best known for her role as DI Maggie Forbes in The Gentle Touch, a drama which ran on ITV from 1980-1984
‘The family is all well, and relieved that she’s not suffering any more.
‘Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will not be a memorial for Jill – who lived in a care home in Los Angles in the later stages of her life – “for a good while”, but the family are planning services in the US and UK.’
Adam 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 are relieved she is not suffering anymore’: Jill’s son Adam shared this moving post on Facebook on Wednesday as he paid tribite to his mother
‘We will likely hold 2 services – one in London for the UK friends and family, and one in Los Angeles for the US side.
‘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 (sic)”‘
Her love: Jill was married to fellow actor Alfred Molina (pictured), who was 16 years her junior
Jill also starred in TV series Z Cars and Dixon of Dock Green, and in the 1990s she and Alfred moved to Los Angeles.
In 2009, she was due to join EastEnders as Glenda Mitchell – the mother of Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell – but later withdrew from the role and it was re-cast, with Glynis Barber taking on the part.
Speaking about the role, Jill previously said: ‘Having spent the last 15 years working in America … I felt on arrival I lacked the right experience to film such a big continuing drama.
‘I have tremendous respect for EastEnders and the cast so I don’t want to let the show or my fellow cast members down.
In the later stages of her career she became a novelist and published three books.
In 2016, husband Alfred confirmed his wife was ‘in a very advanced stage’ of Alzheimer’s disease.