Jill Clayburgh's Untimely Death During Bridesmaids Filming

Jill Clayburgh, an Oscar-nominated actress known for her roles as strong, independent women, passed away in November 2010 at the age of 66. Clayburgh died of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a disease she had been battling for 21 years. Her final film, Bridesmaids, was released seven months after her death in May 2011. In the film, Clayburgh played the mother of Kristen Wiig's character.

Jill Clayburgh's death from leukaemia

Jill Clayburgh, the Oscar-nominated actress known for her roles in "An Unmarried Woman" and "Starting Over", died at the age of 66 on November 5, 2010, after a 21-year battle with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Surrounded by her family and brother, Clayburgh passed away at her home in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Clayburgh's husband, Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe, said she dealt with the disease courageously, quietly, and privately. He also shared that she conducted herself with enormous grace and made her illness an opportunity for her children to grow.

Clayburgh was diagnosed with the same type of cancer that her character had in the acclaimed TV movie "Griffin and Phoenix" (1976), in which she played a middle-aged woman facing a terminal cancer diagnosis.

In addition to her successful acting career, Clayburgh was known for her contributions to the 1991 book "The Choices We Made: Twenty-Five Women and Men Speak Out About Abortion", in which she chronicled her experience with two back-alley abortions as a teenager.

Clayburgh's final film, "Bridesmaids", was released seven months after her death.

Clayburgh's career

Jill Clayburgh was an American actress known for her work in theatre, television and cinema. She was born in New York City in 1944 and attended the all-girls Brearley School before studying religion, philosophy and literature at Sarah Lawrence College. It was here that she decided to pursue acting, receiving her training at HB Studio. Clayburgh began acting in summer stock as a student and, after graduating, joined the Charles Street Repertory Theater in Boston, where she met Al Pacino. In 1968, she made her off-Broadway debut in a double bill of The Indian Wants the Bronx and It's Called the Sugar Plum, starring opposite Pacino. That same year, she made her television debut in an episode of NYPD, and her Broadway debut in The Sudden and Accidental Re-Education of Horse Johnson.

In 1969, Clayburgh made her screen debut in The Wedding Party, directed by Brian De Palma. She went on to star in several Broadway productions, including The Rothschilds (1970–72) and Pippin (1972–75), and had a string of brief character parts in film and television. Clayburgh received her first Oscar nomination for her breakthrough role in An Unmarried Woman (1978), for which she also won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. She received a second consecutive Oscar nomination for her role in Starting Over (1979).

In the 1980s, Clayburgh appeared in fewer and less successful films, despite turning to more dramatic material. She played a valium addict in I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (1981) and a court-appointed Israeli-American lawyer in the controversial Hanna K. (1983), which flopped at the box office and hurt her career. Upset by the film's reception, Clayburgh gave up cinema for three years, during which time she focused on raising her children. She returned to Broadway in 1984 for a revival of Noël Coward's Design for Living.

In the late 1980s, Clayburgh shifted to television films, including Where Are the Children? (1986) and Miles to Go... (1986). She returned to film in 1987, portraying a shallow, sophisticated Manhattan magazine writer in Andrei Konchalovsky's independent film Shy People. In the 1990s, Clayburgh took on more supporting character roles, including an antagonistic judge in Trial: The Price of Passion (1992) and a wheelchair-user mother in Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland (1993). She also played concerned, protective mothers in For the Love of Nancy (1994), The Face on the Milk Carton (1995), Going All the Way (1997) and Fools Rush In (1997).

In the 2000s, Clayburgh continued to act in both film and television. She had her first prominent lead role since the 1980s in Never Again (2001) and appeared in Love & Other Drugs (2010), starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Her final film role was in Bridesmaids (2011), playing the mother of Kristen Wiig's character. Clayburgh died in 2010 at the age of 66, after privately battling chronic lymphocytic leukaemia for over two decades.

Clayburgh's personal life

Jill Clayburgh was born on April 30, 1944, in New York City, into a wealthy family with a Protestant mother, Julia Louise (Dorr), and a Jewish father, Albert Henry Clayburgh. Clayburgh's mother was an actress and theatrical production secretary, while her father was a manufacturing executive. Clayburgh's paternal grandmother, Alma Lachenbruch Clayburgh, was a concert and opera singer. Clayburgh's brother, Jim Clayburgh, is a scenic designer.

Clayburgh never talked about her religious background and was not raised in the faith of either of her parents. She had a difficult relationship with her parents and started therapy at an early age. As a teenager, she had two back-alley abortions, which she later chronicled in the 1991 book, 'The Choices We Made: Twenty-Five Women and Men Speak Out About Abortion'.

Clayburgh was inspired to become an actor after seeing Jean Arthur as Peter Pan on Broadway in 1950. She attended the all-girls Brearley School and later studied religion, philosophy, and literature at Sarah Lawrence College. However, she ultimately decided to pursue acting and received her training at HB Studio.

In the late 1960s, Clayburgh moved to New York and began her career in theatre, appearing in several Broadway productions, including "The Rothschilds" and "Pippin". She made her screen debut in 1970 with a minor role in "The Wedding Party", written and directed by Brian De Palma.

In 1967, Clayburgh met actor Al Pacino at the Charles Street Repertory Theater in Boston, and the two began a five-year romance. They co-starred in several projects, including the ABC television series NYPD and the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow".

In 1978, Clayburgh received her first Academy Award nomination for her role in "An Unmarried Woman". She received a second consecutive Academy Award nomination in 1979 for "Starting Over". Throughout her career, she appeared in various films and television shows, including "Silver Streak", "Semi-Tough", "La Luna", "First Monday in October", and "Hustling".

Clayburgh was married to screenwriter and playwright David Rabe, with whom she had two children: a son, Michael, and a daughter, actress Lily Rabe.

Clayburgh died on November 5, 2010, at her home in Lakeville, Connecticut, from chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which she had been battling privately for over two decades.

The film Bridesmaids

The 2011 film Bridesmaids is an American comedy written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, and directed by Paul Feig. It stars Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, and Chris O'Dowd. The film focuses on Annie Walker, a young single woman whose life is in disarray. Annie has lost her passion for baking, works a stressful, underpaid job, and is in an unfulfilling sexual relationship. The only positive presence in her life is her best friend, Lillian. When Lillian gets engaged, she asks Annie to be her maid of honour.

At the engagement party, Annie meets the other bridesmaids: Rita, Becca, Megan, and Helen. Annie and Helen become increasingly competitive for Lillian's attention. Annie's suggestion for a bachelorette party at a lake house is overruled by Helen, who plans a trip to Las Vegas. Annie is too proud to let Helen pay for her first-class ticket and books a ticket in economy. She accepts a sedative and liquor from Helen to help with her fear of flying, but begins to hallucinate and suffers a breakdown, causing the plane to make an emergency landing. Annie apologises, but Lillian decides it's best if Helen takes over planning the bridal shower and wedding.

Meanwhile, Annie grows closer to Nathan Rhodes, a Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper. After a romantic night together, she panics and abruptly leaves when Nathan surprises her with baking supplies. Annie is fired from her job after an argument with a teenage customer and is later evicted by her roommates, forcing her to move in with her mother. She travels to Helen's home in Chicago for the bridal shower, which has a Parisian theme—an idea of Annie's that Helen had previously rejected. When Helen upstages Annie's gift by surprising Lillian with a trip to Paris, Annie berates Helen and Lilian and destroys the decor. She then storms out of the shower and Lillian disinvites her from the wedding.

On her way home, Annie gets into a car accident. The responding officer is Nathan, who admonishes her for blowing him off and not taking responsibility for herself. Ted arrives shortly after and gives Annie a ride, but when he asks her to perform oral sex on him, she demands to be let out of the car. Megan visits Annie and motivates her to take control of her life. She resumes baking, gets her car fixed, and tries to make amends with Nathan. On the day of the wedding, Helen and Annie reconcile, and Nathan arrives to pick up Annie.

Bridesmaids was a critical and commercial success, making $306 million worldwide. It received multiple accolades, including two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay. It also passed the Bechdel test of female-driven storylines.

Clayburgh's legacy

Jill Clayburgh was an American actress known for her work in theatre, television, and cinema. Clayburgh's career spanned five decades, and she is remembered for her versatility and naturalistic acting style. She was also known for her grace and elegance, both on and off-screen.

Clayburgh's career began in 1950 when, as a child, she was inspired to become an actor after seeing Jean Arthur as Peter Pan on Broadway. She went on to study at the prestigious all-girls Brearley School and later at Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied religion, philosophy, and literature. However, her passion for acting led her to pursue her craft at HB Studio.

Clayburgh's early career included appearances in several off-Broadway productions, such as "The Indian Wants the Bronx" and "It's Called the Sugar Plum", as well as television series like "NYPD" and "Search for Tomorrow". She made her Broadway debut in 1968 with "The Sudden and Accidental Re-Education of Horse Johnson" and her screen debut in 1969 with "The Wedding Party", directed by Brian De Palma.

Clayburgh's breakthrough came in 1978 with her career-defining role in Paul Mazursky's "An Unmarried Woman", for which she received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She received a second consecutive Academy Award nomination in 1979 for "Starting Over". Clayburgh also earned four Golden Globe nominations for her film performances throughout her career.

In addition to her acclaimed dramatic roles, Clayburgh was known for her comedic talent, particularly in the sports comedy "Semi-Tough" and the romantic comedy "Starting Over". She was praised for her timing and her ability to handle both zany and subtle humour with skill. Clayburgh's final film role was in the 2011 blockbuster comedy "Bridesmaids", where she played the mother of Kristen Wiig's character.

Beyond her acting career, Clayburgh was also known for her personal life and the challenges she faced. She dated actor Al Pacino for five years and later married screenwriter and playwright David Rabe in 1979. Clayburgh also chronicled her experience with back-alley abortions as a teenager in the 1991 book "The Choices We Made: Twenty-Five Women and Men Speak Out About Abortion".

Clayburgh passed away on November 5, 2010, at the age of 66, after a private 21-year battle with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Her legacy includes a body of work that showcased her range and talent as an actress, as well as a lasting impact on the entertainment industry.

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