Joyce Jillson, whose syndicated astrology column was featured in over 200 papers in the US, including the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, and more than 80 papers abroad, died in Los Angeles on October 1, 2004. She was 58. Joyce was known as a "Hollywood Astrologer" and the official astrologer for 20th Century Fox. She advised the Studio of the most suitable opening days for several of their films including that of "Star Wars" in 1977.

Joyce was born in Rhode Island and began studying astrology at the age of eight. She later attended Boston University on an opera scholarship and then began an acting career in New York and Los Angeles. Joyce was most famous for her role in the 1960s hit TV show "Peyton Place. She played Jill Smith for two years and was featured in the TV movie "Return to Peyton Place. During those same years, Joyce also won a Broadway award as the outstanding Broadway newcomer and leading lady opposite Anthony Newley in "The Roar of the Greasepaint."

In 1973, Joyce began doing astrology charts for a local radio station in Los Angeles. However, it wasn't until May 1988 that she made worldwide, front-page news when she revealed that the President and Mrs. Reagan regularly consulted with astrologers and she had visited the White House after the assassination attempt on the President in 1981. Numerous stories and pictures of Joyce appeared in Time Magazine, Newsweek, U.S. News, World Report, Life, People and Forbes as well as all major newspapers regarding her revelation.

This publicity led to Joyce becoming the frequent guest on such TV shows as "Good Morning America," "Life With Regis and Kathie Lee," "The Tonight Show," "Oprah" and the "Merv Griffin Show."

Joyce married Joseph Gallagher in 1969 and they divorced in 1981. She is survived by her mother, Beatrice H. Twitchell.

BIRTH AND DEATH DATA: The Movie Data Base quotes Joyce's birth data as December 26, 1945 in Cranston, Rhode Island, Time Unknown. In other publications, her birth year has been listed as 1945, 1946 and 1947, however her age at her death has been cited consistently as 58. She died of complications of kidney disease on October 1, 2004 in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Joyce was a Capricorn, but Gallagher stated,"She regarded herself as a Libra since most of her astrological planets were aligned with that sign." Interestingly, in her chart only Neptune is placed in Libra--is this quote from Jillson possibly a clue to true her birth date?

BOOKS:

Additionally, Joyce published several books. They were:

Joyce Jillson's Lifesigns
Real Women Don't Pump Gas
The Fine Art of Flirting.

At the time of her death, she also had two completed books that have yet to be published: Dog Astrology and Astrology for Cats.

TRIBUTES:

I knew Joyce pretty well in the 80's when she guested on the AM LA show.  I only recently realized whe was gone and I am blessed to  have known her.  I photographed her many times with Regis and other hosts on the local KABC-TV morning shows.  She often purchased still photos of her appearence from me.  We often talked about all kinds of things, I have 6 dogs.  I left the biz almost 20 years ago and now I am rediscovering the old stills I have of her from my days as a still photographer.  Joyce was really a sweet lady.  I'll never forget her.  

Don Sanders  

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