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.
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.
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 also costarred in Roots of Evil with Alex Cord, directed by her husband.
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 staphylococcal infection, which she contracted after having been diagnosed with leukemia. She was 58 years old.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1976 The Student Body Carrie 1978 Starhops Angel 1980 Ang agila at ang 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
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