Actress Jackie Tohn Raised $125,000 for Ovarian Cancer Research

by Evelyn Frick

(KVELLER Via JTA) – Early this year, Jackie Tohn announced her BRCA1 diagnosis in a vulnerable segment on The Today Show. Now, the 46-year-old Jewish actress is continuing her advocacy for hereditary cancer awareness and research.

Tohn appeared on “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” last week alongside “Nobody Wants This” co-star and TV husband Timothy Simons. While Simons was competing for the Silver Lake Children’s Theatre Group, Tohn committed to donate her winnings to OCRA or the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.

“What is so amazing about this organization particularly is that, of course, they’re trying to find a cure for ovarian cancer, but where they’re spending most of their resources is to advance the screening,” Jackie shared in a clip on “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire’s?” social media channels. “Somehow it’s 2026 and there is no pre-screening for ovarian cancer. And that’s crazy.”

After Jackie tested positive for the BRCA1 gene, a mutation which dramatically increases the risk for certain cancers including breast and ovarian, she underwent a preventative double mastectomy on Dec. 1, 2025. She also stated her plans to undergo a preventative oophorectomy. “I’m sharing my story because I am a Jewish woman in my 40s and no one had ever talked to me about BRCA,” Jackie shared in a press release around time she appeared on The Today Show, referencing the fact that 1 in 40 Ashkenazis Jews are carriers of the BRCA gene.

 

Ultimately, Jackie and Timothy had an incredibly successful (an entertaining) run on “Millionaire,” splitting $250,000 between their two charities. Their team flew through the first five questions correctly responding to trivia about Superman, Q-tips, Vaudeville acts, mini-golf and Finnish culture.

At the $8,000 mark, a question about gold, TV’s Esther and Sasha utilized their first lifeline; asking “little fancy boy” host Jimmy Kimmel for his opinion. From there, each new question warranted discussion or the use of lifeline for Jackie and Timothy. On more than one occasion, Jackie got out of her seat to run around in anxious anticipation of whether or not they answered the question right. (It makes for great TV!) The pair decided to cash out on the $500,000 question, having used up all of their lifelines. The question asked them to identify the names of Snoopy’s siblings in Charles M. Schulz’ Peanuts Comics Strip.

“Tohn’s win will directly fund OCRA’s research, advocacy, and support programs for patients and loved ones impacted by gynecologic cancer,” the group announced on its website.

Yasher koach, Jackie and Timothy! What a beautiful act of tzedakah ahead of the “Nobody Wants This” season three premiere.

This article is reposted from KVELLER.