Jill Whelan's net worth and her journey from Love Boat star to TV icon

Jill Whelan's net worth and her journey from Love Boat star to TV icon

Jill Whelan's net worth is alleged to be $1.5 million. Jill is an American actress who rose to prominence as a child star, most notably for her portrayal of Vicki Stubing in the long-running TV series The Love Boat. Her career has spanned decades, with appearances in television and film and pursuits outside of acting, including radio hosting and producing.

Jill Whelan attends the Women's Choice Award Show. Jill attends the 5th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose
Jill Whelan attends the Women's Choice Award Show at Avalon Hollywood (L). Jill attends the 5th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose in Los Angeles (R). Photo: Tasia Wells, Rodin Eckenroth (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Jill Whelan began her career as a child actress, and her breakthrough role as Vicki Stubing on The Love Boat helped her become a household name.
  • She is known for her roles in high-grossing films and TV series such as Airplane! (1980) and Martin (1997), as well as several guest appearances.
  • Whelan has worked as a radio talk show host, event producer, writer, and investigative producer.

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Jill Whelan's profile summary

Full name

Jill Whelan

Gender

Female

Date of birth

29 September 1966

Age

59 years old (as of 2025)

Zodiac sign

Libra

Place of birth

Oakland, California, United States

Current residence

Arizona, United States

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

White

Religion

Christianity

Sexuality

Straight

Height in feet

5'7"

Height in centimetres

170

Weight in pounds

121

Weight in kilograms

55

Hair colour

Blonde

Eye colour

Blue

Marital status

Married

Husband

Jeff Knapple

Children

Grant Chaykowsky, Harrison St. John

Father

Charles Whelan

Mother

Carol Garrett

Siblings

Nancy Whelan

Education

Santa Monica College, Guildford University

Profession

Actress, radio talk show host

Years active

1973–present

Net worth

$1.5 million

Instagram

@officialjillwhelan

What is Jill Whelan's net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Jill Whelan has an alleged net worth of $1.5 million. She has earned income through various sources, including her acting profession, radio hosting, and brand promotions.

Jill Whelan's acting career: From child star to Hollywood regular

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Jill Whelan started her acting career as Nancy Wilks in 1979 in Friends. She has been featured in several other movies and TV shows, including Good vs Evil (1999), Criminal Minds (2016), and The Girl in the Pool (2024).

Facts about Jill Whelan
Top-5 facts about Jill Whelan. Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Jill Whelan's movies and TV shows credits

According to Jill Whelan's IMDb profile, she has 32 acting credits. Some of her notable film and television credits include;

Year

Movie/TV show

Role

2024

The Girl in the Pool

Susan

2024

Still Here Hollywood Podcast

Jill Whelan

2023

Exeter

Mrs Haney (voice)

2021

Jon Hamm

Coach Marissa

2017

Take It from the Top

Jill

2016

Criminal Minds

Principal Vicki Dahl

2016

Wrong Swipe

Jill

2015

Real Husbands of Hollywood

Karen

2015

The Bold and the Beautiful

Diane

2013

A Christmas Tree Miracle

Cindy Cruthers

2013

Phineas and Ferb

Waitress

2012

6 Degrees of Hell

Jill Hudson

2009

Looking For

Sally Jones

1999

Good vs Evil

Jill Whelan

1998

Sandman

Ginger Ice

1998

The New Adventures of Robin Hood

Kyra Briggs

1997

Diagnosis Murder

Nancy Stewart

1990

The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage

Vicki

1987

The Law and Harry McGraw

Cindy Grimes

1978–1987

The Love Boat

Vicki Stubing

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From radio to podcasting: her voice behind the mic

The American actress was a radio talk show host for 1210 WPHT radio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from October 2005 to November 2007. From September 2012 to December 2013, she co-hosted The Brian and Jill Show podcast alongside Brian Phelps.

Jill Whelan arrives at the debut of the Southern California location of Michael Feinstein's new supper club
Jill Whelan arrives at the debut of the Southern California location of Michael Feinstein's new supper club, Feinstein's at Vitello's, on 13 June 2019 in Studio City, California. Photo: Amanda Edwards
Source: Getty Images

Working as an investigative producer

According to her LinkedIn page, Whelan worked as an investigative news producer for the Los Angeles television station KCOP News from August 1999 to May 2001.

Producing for television news

After returning from England following the end of The Love Boat in the mid-1980s, the American actress relocated to New York City. She served as an event producer at Madison Square Garden, assisting with setting up acts.

Princess Cruises ambassador role

Whelan joined Princess Cruises as a Celebrations Ambassador in 2015. Her responsibilities include representing the firm at consumer and travel shows, making celebration content, and surprising guests while cruising on Princess ships.

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Jill Whelan attends the 7th Annual Unstoppable Foundation Gala
Jill Whelan attends the 7th Annual Unstoppable Foundation Gala held at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on 19 March 2016 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Tommaso Boddi
Source: Getty Images

She assists passengers in celebrating essential occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and other significant life events, utilising her unique connection to the cruise line from her time on The Love Boat. She also authors celebration guidelines and appears in the company's video series.

Jill Whelan on stage: Theatre and cabaret

Jill Whelan has performed in various theatre productions, including musicals, dramatic plays, and cabaret performances. She began her theatrical career early, appearing in musical theatre shows.

Jill hosts a one-woman cabaret show titled Jill Whelan: An Evening in Dry Dock, in which she tells stories about her adventures and the celebrities she met on The Love Boat. She performed in the off-Broadway show Lady Patriot. In 2011, she performed in the British farce Move Over Mrs Markham at a theatre in Toronto, Ontario.

Jill Whelan attends the special "A Girl Like Her" screening
Actress Jill Whelan attends the special "A Girl Like Her" screening at The ArcLight Hollywood on 27 March 2015 in Hollywood, California. Photo: Paul Archuleta
Source: Getty Images

FAQs

  1. How did Jill Whelan become famous? She rose to prominence as a child star, most notably as Vicki Stubing in the iconic television series The Love Boat.
  2. What is Jill Whelan doing now? She continues to work in the entertainment industry and as a brand ambassador for Princess Cruises.
  3. Why did Jill Whelan leave The Love Boat? The actress did not leave The Love Boat. Her role, Vicki Stubing, remained in the cast until the series concluded in 1986.
  4. Does Jill Whelan have any endorsements? She has been the Celebrations Ambassador for Princess Cruises since March 2015.
  5. How old is Jill Whelan? She is 58 years old as of September 2025. The Love Boat actress was born on 29 September 1966.
  6. Is Jill Whelan still married? Jill is currently married to Jeff Knapple, a former American football quarterback in the NFL. They have been married since 2017.
  7. How many children does Jill Whelan have? She has two kids, Harrison (from her first marriage to Brad St. John) and Grant (from her second marriage to Michael Chaykowsky).

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Jill Whelan's net worth reflects her remarkable transition from a child star to a multifaceted professional. While she is most recognised for her classic performance as Vicki Stubing in The Love Boat, her career has expanded far beyond acting. Her sources of income include continuous work in television and theatre, as well as a long-running radio career.

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Edie Falco's income comes from high-profile acting roles, real estate investments, syndication royalties, and selective endorsements. Read the article for more information about Edie Falco's net worth.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
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Racheal Murimi (Lifestyle writer) Racheal Murimi is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She has over three years of experience in creating content. Racheal graduated from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology with a bachelor's degree in BCom, Finance. She has amassed sufficient knowledge on various topics, including biographies, fashion, lifestyle, and beauty. In 2023, Racheal finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and the Google News Initiative course. You can reach her at wambuimurimi254@gmail.com