The LOVE BOAT star says her mom kept her on the right path.

Published: October 22, 2024

LOVE BOAT star says ‘incredible’ mum kept her on the right track

Author: Movieguide® Author

Former child star Jill Whelan credits her “incredible” mother for keeping her on track as she rose to stardom.

Whelan became famous for her role as Vicky Stubing in the hit sitcom THE LOVE BOAT, but managed to avoid the pitfalls of early fame thanks to her mother.

“My mom was incredible,” Whelan told Fox News. “She never forgot that she was a parent first and then a momager.” And I attribute a lot of the fact that I wasn’t arrested to my mom.”

The actress joked: “I’m still scared of her at 84 years old. She still wields the big stick. (But) I think from the point of view of any child in this industry… a lot of parental responsibility is the reason why they don’t or can’t lead a somewhat normal life.”

Whelan echoed that sentiment in an interview with PEOPLE, saying, “She’s the reason I haven’t been arrested yet. I’m still afraid of her because she’s a strong woman! But hey, putting a kid in business always leaves room for disaster or nefarious behavior. My mom did everything she could.”

The actress also spoke glowingly of her co-stars, including the late Gavin MacLeod, who played her father in THE LOVE BOAT. MacLeod passed away in 2021 at the age of 90.

READ MORE: THE LOVE BOAT STAR GAVIN MacLEOD DIED AT 90

“He’s such a wonderful actor, a truly gifted, versatile actor,” Whelan said during a Q&A for “The Love Boat Legacy: Original Cast Reflections” with some of her former co-stars. “And so many people don’t have that knowledge of what an amazing actor he was and the person that I talked about before. What I remember most about Gavin was his love for life. Everyone said, “Isn’t this the best?”