Jill Messick

About Jill Messick

Jill Messick (née Sobel was an American film producer and studio executive. She worked at Miramax (under Harvey Weinstein), served as a talent manager (including for Rose McGowan in the 1990s), and produced or executive produced films like Frida (2002), Baby Mama (2008), and Masterminds (2016). She was the granddaughter of James H. Nicholson (co-founder of American International Pictures). Messick became embroiled in the #MeToo-era Harvey Weinstein scandal when details emerged about her role as McGowan's former manager during McGowan's 1997 allegations against Weinstein; her family later described her as collateral damage in the media frenzy.
She died on February 7, 2018, at age 50 in Los Angeles, California. Reliable sources—including Wikipedia, The Hollywood Reporter, NPR, Vanity Fair, People, Deadline, The Guardian, and family statements—confirm her death as suicide. She had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and battled depression for years (described as her "nemesis"). Her family issued a public statement blaming the intense public scrutiny, inaccurate accusations, and involvement in the Weinstein-McGowan controversy for exacerbating her struggles, while affirming her support for the #MeToo movement. The specific method of suicide was not publicly detailed in reports.