What happened to the Real Jill?
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Clusium — 19 years ago(August 01, 2006 08:44 PM)
So, you knew the girl who was the inspiration for "Jill" in Sunshine?
Perhaps you might be able to answer something I have been trying to find out for a few years now:
How was it that Universal Studios found about this story about the girl who left behind a tape-recorded diary for her baby daughter?
I've asked so many places on the internet, including here on imdb.com, & to date, have never received an answer to my question. -
Clusium — 19 years ago(August 03, 2006 07:20 PM)
I always understood that it was the other way around: Universal Studios made it into a tv movie, & then Norma Klein made it into a book.
And even if it had been Norma Klein who first put it in print, I'd be wondering how she got access to Jacqueline M. Helton's diary to have her story published. -
roses888 — 19 years ago(August 04, 2006 06:16 AM)
Neither the book or movie are Helton's actual biography. The book & movie are "based" on Helton's life, there is probally alot of fiction mixed in there, too. We know they call her "Kate" in the book & film & that's definately not her real name so that part is factual as well. Also, Jennifer was her daughter's real name not Jill as in the books, movie, and series. "Sunshine" was her daughter's nickname. I did a web search for Helton and very little personal information about her comes up other than the movie by Universal, screenplay written by Carol Sobieski & the book by Klein which we already know about. Jacquelyn recorded the poem "Sunshine on my Shoulder" (that's where the song comes from). Helton died in 1971 so it was a long time ago. I will keep searching to see what else I can find out for you. I would like to find some actual pictures & more information of her & her daughter. I have never seen a real photo of Jacquelyn. It seems her short life including her diaries were somewhat of a mystery which makes her all the more interesting. But it is known that in 1971 Jacquelyn's story was big news, in the papers and such. Interestingly, the cancer she had (osteosarcoma) could of maybe been stopped and she could of lived to see her daughter grow up if Jacquelyn would of agreed to have her leg amputated.
Hope this helps. -
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Clusium — 19 years ago(January 26, 2007 08:46 PM)
"Jacquelyn recorded the poem "Sunshine on my Shoulder" (that's where the song comes from)."
After reading that here, I did a google search, & it said that John Denver wrote the lyrics for "Sunshine on my Shoulder." I do remember reading in "Sunshine"(the book)that she wanted to compose a poem called "Beautiful Sunshine," for her daughter, though.
"Interestingly, the cancer she had(osteosarcoma)could of maybe been stopped and she could of lived to see her daughter grow up if Jacquelyn would of agreed to have her leg amputated."
Not necessarily. Terry Fox had the same type of cancer, & although he had his leg amputated, it still spread to his lungs, & he died. -
nataliec-748-94345 — 15 years ago(May 25, 2010 03:22 PM)
I did a google search after watching the movie on youtube for the second time. I found an obituary and there is a scan of a paper clipping and a couple of pics.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=22944291 -
bjp249249 — 9 years ago(April 30, 2016 07:56 PM)
The real woman The story is written about her name is Jacquelyn. Aka Lyn. Her daughters name is Jennifer. Lyn was given a tape recorder to record messages to her daughter. One day while she was doing dishes a young boy came into her apartment and stole the tapes and tape recorder. A story was written in the newspaper in attempts to have someone return the tapes. This is where the story gained notoriety and how it ended up becoming a movie.
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zoffreo — 19 years ago(February 05, 2007 08:41 AM)
I just bought the DVD film Sunshine and Sunshine Christmas. I've been searching for this film for decades and finally found it on the internet. I never saw the original film Sunshine but only new Sunshine Christmas. This film has also stuck with me for decades. I finally saw the original film Sunshine. And like the many posts here I too am interested in how the real Jill is doing in life.
I hope she is fine. I wonder what ever happened to the real Sam too. What an inspirational film I don't think I've ever seen anything like this film before it has a mysterious quality that sticks with you for the rest of your life.
I hope the real Jill is doing fine and loves her mother. If anyone has any info on the Jacquelyn M Helton or the real Sam and real Jill and how they are doing in life that would be great news to those of us touched by this powerful story well done in these extroardinary films. -
gpierce-38-874549 — 13 years ago(March 04, 2013 02:39 PM)
Jennifer lost a daughter of her own, ironically, in 2010. She had a baby girl named Emma Sunshine Marshall, born and died on the same day, April 2, 2010. Can't help but love the middle name chosen for this baby girl.
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loriproudman — 11 years ago(October 19, 2014 12:55 PM)
The mother of the baby you reference was born in 1981 according to facebook
https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.marshall.391?fref=tl_fr_box
Much too young to be that Jennifer Helton.