For The Love Boat crew aboard the Pacific Princess, there was more to everyday life than making sure breakfast was waiting for each cruise passenger. Captain Stubing and the rest of the cast were more than happy to get involved with their guests' romantic entanglements, providing laughs and love for the passengers onboard.
Of course, every good captain has their resident first mate, and Jill Whelan's Vicki Stubing was happy to join her father at the helm of the Pacific Princess. Read on to see what she's been up to since she brought her career into port, her early days of Love Boat stardom and whether she made a return for the '70s hit's sequel series...
© Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty ImagesJill starred as Vicki Stubing in her breakout role
The Love Boat stardom
Jill Whelan landed her breakout role on The Love Boat as Vicki Stubing, the young daughter of Captain Stubing who steered the crew in the right direction and guided his guests through their own romantic endeavours.
Jill appeared on 190 episodes of the hit sitcom between 1978 and 1987, and joined the crew for more fun in the TV movie sequel A Valentine Voyage (1990).
© Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty ImagesLanding her breakthrough role on 'The Love Boat' opened up new opportunities for Jill
Following fame
After finding recognition on The Love Boat, Jill was cast in cult comedy Airplane! and worked on several well-known shows, with episode appearances on Vega$, Matt Houston and The Young and the Restless.
She also returned to The Love Boat franchise for The Next Wave, reprising her role and checking in on the new recruits who took the spin-off for a two-season cruise.
© Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesJill wed her first husband Brad St. John in 1993
Romantic life
Jill has tied the knot three times. She first said 'I do' to Brad St. John in 1993, remaining wed for 8 years, until the couple split in 2001. Jill and Brad welcomed a son, Harrison.
In 2004, she married Michael Chaykowsky and gave birth to son Grant Chaykowsky. Jill and Michael split 10 years after they tied the knot in 2014. In 2017, the actress married former NFL quarterback Jeff Knapple.
© WireImage via Getty ImagesJill returned to working after an almost 15-year-long break
Last roles
Between 1999 and 2012, Jill enjoyed a break from the spotlight, only taking on a short film role during the 13-year hiatus. She returned to the screen in 6 Degrees of Hell (2012), working on The Bold and the Beautiful, Criminal Minds and Take it from the Top.
She's also lent her acting skills to voiceover projects, ranging from the animated children's series Phineas and Ferb to the crime podcast Exeter.
© Getty Images for Princess CruiseJill Whelan is living a family-centred life in Arizona
Where is she now?
In recent years, Jill has guest starred on the Still Here Hollywood Podcast in 2024 and appeared in Freddie Prinze Jr. thriller The Girl in the Pool (2024). For the most part, however, it seems Jill is content with a life away from the spotlight.
The former actress is enjoying her new life in Arizona, telling People, "There's great culture and the community is growing. My mom is here, we have two sons [who] are already there. We're recruiting everybody else, and we're recruiting hard."
