First Appearance: July 15, 1975 (#0007)

Last Appearance: January 13, 1989 (#3515)

Portrayer: Nancy Addison Altman (July 15, 1975 - January 1988; January 1989 - January 13, 1989)

Background: Jillian grew up as the adopted daughter of Judith and Ed Coleridge. Ed loved Jill like she was his own daughter, while Judith was a tad icy towards her. Jill was an overachiever who often underwent a lot of stress. She eventually became a lawyer. In 1982, Maeve Ryan, who thought she was dying, told Jillian that Ed Coleridge was her father. During the next year, Jill's half-mother (Bess Shelby) and half-sister (Maggie Shelby) both popped up.

Spouses: Seneca Beaulac (1978-1979)
Frank Ryan (1983- ?)

Occupation: Law professor
Lawyer (both private practice and for Riverside Hospital)

Children: Edmund Strong Coleridge (b.1977-d.1979; with Frank Ryan)

Relatives: Edmund Coleridge (father), Bess Shelby (mother), Faith Coleridge (half-sister), Roger Coleridge (half-brother), Maggie Shelby (half-sister), Ben Shelby (half-brother), Edmund Strong Coleridge (son), Grace Coleridge (niece), Olivia Coleridge (niece)

Former Flames: Jack Fenelli (pre-1975) and Dakota Smith (1985/1986)

Medical History: Injured her head when she hit her head on a desk after Delia Ryan pushed her over a tricycle. Became very close to suffering a miscarriage several times. Later became addicted to pills. Suffered amnesia after slipping on a dock.

True Love: Jillian had known Frank Ryan for years; however, she did not develop feelings for him until he became one of her students at law school. After awhile, their relationship became intimate, despite the fact that he was married to Delia Reid. Their affair ended in 1974, after Delia became pregnant with Little John Ryan, but it resumed soon afterwards. When Frank told Delia that he was going to leave her for Jillian, Delia pushed him down a flight of stairs in a jealous rage. Frank almost died. Frank eventually told his parents about the affair and about the fact that Roger (Jillian's half-brother) had been blackmailing him. Delia and Frank tried to make their relationship work; however, it ended when Frank found out she was having an affair with Roger. It seemed like Jillian and he would eventually get married. However, he found out that Jillian had become pregnant by Seneca Beaulac after their affair had ended. Their relationship was over once again. It eventually turned out that the baby was Frank's, but their relationship did not resume. These feelings would show again, however, when Frank (in 1981) realized he still had feelings for Jillian even though he had become engaged to her half-sister, Faith. He ended the engagement because of this, causing Faith to despise Jill. Frank and Jillian did not resume their relationship, and he left town at the end of 1981. Once he returned in 1983, however, their relationship resumed and they were married after it was thought that Frank would die from a gunshot wound. Their marriage was very rocky.
(note: not much is really known about the late '80s storylines of ryan's hope, which is why it ends here. sorry!)