Jill Clayburgh's Health During 'Bridesmaids': An Inside Look

Jill Clayburgh, the Oscar-nominated actress known for her roles in An Unmarried Woman and Starting Over, passed away in 2010 after a 21-year battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clayburgh's last film appearance was in the 2011 blockbuster comedy Bridesmaids, where she played the mother of Kristen Wiig's character. Clayburgh's illness was not known to her co-stars, and they were unaware she was sick during the filming of Bridesmaids. In fact, producer Judd Apatow removed some of Clayburgh's dirtier jokes from the film out of respect, stating, I just thought, 'That can't be the last thing she ever says in a film.' We did debate it. We were like, 'That's funny, but that would be questionable.' Clayburgh's performance in Bridesmaids and her influence on her co-stars serve as a testament to her legacy in Hollywood.

Jill Clayburgh's last film before her death

Bridesmaids, the 2011 blockbuster comedy directed by Paul Feig, was the last film Jill Clayburgh completed before her death. Clayburgh, who passed away in 2010, played the mother of Kristen Wiig's character in the film.

Clayburgh's career spanned four decades, with her first screen appearance in 1969's The Wedding Party. She was known for her roles in films such as Paul Mazursky's An Unmarried Woman (1978), for which she received an Academy Award nomination, and Semi-Tough (1977), opposite Burt Reynolds. Clayburgh also received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Alan J. Pakula's Starting Over (1979), in which she played a teacher who falls in love with a divorced man (Burt Reynolds).

In addition to her film work, Clayburgh had a successful career on Broadway, making her debut in 1968 with The Sudden and Accidental Re-Education of Horse Johnson. She went on to star in popular Broadway shows such as The Rothschilds (1970-1972) and Pippin (1972-1975).

Clayburgh's final film, Bridesmaids, was a critical and commercial success. The film starred Kristen Wiig as Annie, the maid of honour for her lifelong best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph). Despite being broke, Annie fully embraces the wedding rituals, trying to keep up with the other bridesmaids, including her rival Helen (Rose Byrne). As the film progresses, Annie's life spirals out of control, resulting in a series of escalating disasters.

Clayburgh's performance in Bridesmaids was well-received, and she was described as a "maternal, nurturing spirit" by her co-star Kristen Wiig. Sadly, Clayburgh passed away from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia before the film's release, and out of respect, producer Judd Apatow removed some of the dirtier jokes from her scenes.

Clayburgh's battle with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Jill Clayburgh privately battled chronic lymphocytic leukaemia for over two decades before passing away on November 5, 2010, at the age of 66. Clayburgh was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 1989 and kept her illness a secret from most people, including her colleagues.

Her husband, the playwright David Rabe, said that she dealt with the disease courageously and quietly, and "made it into an opportunity for her children to grow and be human". Clayburgh's last film role was in the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, where she played the mother of Kristen Wiig's character. Wiig and director Paul Feig have both spoken about how they had no idea Clayburgh was sick during filming and how honoured they felt to have worked with her.

Clayburgh's career spanned four decades and included numerous acclaimed performances in film, television, and theatre. She was known for portraying strong, independent, and flawed women, and her most famous roles included "An Unmarried Woman" (1978) and "Starting Over" (1979), for which she received Oscar nominations. Clayburgh also appeared in "Semi-Tough" (1977), "It's My Turn" (1980), "First Monday in October" (1981), and "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can" (1982).

Clayburgh's career and roles

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. She decided to pursue acting and trained at HB Studio. Clayburgh's career spanned several decades and included a variety of roles across different mediums. Here is an overview of her notable career and roles:

Early Career and Theatre Work:

• Clayburgh began acting as a student in summer stock and joined the Charles Street Repertory Theater in Boston, where she met Al Pacino.
• In 1968, she made her off-Broadway debut in Israel Horovitz's "The Indian Wants the Bronx" and "It's Called the Sugar Plum," starring opposite Pacino.
• In the same year, she made her Broadway debut in "The Sudden and Accidental Re-Education of Horse Johnson," co-starring Jack Klugman.
• Clayburgh attracted attention with her performance in the Broadway musical "The Rothschilds" (1970-1972), which ran for 502 performances.
• She played Desdemona in the 1971 Los Angeles production of "Othello," starring opposite James Earl Jones.
• Another Broadway success was "Pippin" (1972-1975), which ran for a record-breaking 1,944 performances.
• In 1984, she returned to Broadway for a revival of Noël Coward's "Design for Living," starring alongside Frank Langella and Raúl Julia.
• Her final Broadway appearance was in 2006, in a revival of "Barefoot in the Park" at the Cort Theater, starring with Tony Roberts and Amanda Peet.

Film and Television Roles:

• Clayburgh made her screen debut in 1969 with Brian De Palma's "The Wedding Party", filmed while she was at Sarah Lawrence but released six years later. She played the bride-to-be opposite Robert De Niro and Jennifer Salt.
• In the 1970s, she had a string of brief character parts in films such as "The Telephone Book" (1971), "Portnoy's Complaint" (1972), "The Thief Who Came to Dinner" (1973), and "The Terminal Man" (1974).
• Clayburgh received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her breakthrough role in Paul Mazursky's "An Unmarried Woman" (1978), playing a courageous abandoned wife. This role also earned her a Golden Globe nomination and the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
• She received her second consecutive Academy Award nomination for "Starting Over" (1979), playing a nursery school teacher who falls in love with a divorced man (Burt Reynolds).
• Clayburgh played the iconic Carole Lombard opposite James Brolin's Clark Gable in the 1976 biopic "Gable and Lombard."
• She had a box office success with the comedy-mystery "Silver Streak" (1976), playing the love interest of Gene Wilder's character.
• In "Semi-Tough" (1977), Clayburgh starred opposite Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson in a comedy set in the world of American professional football.
• Clayburgh took on the role of a valium addict and documentarist in "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can" (1981), a film written by her husband, David Rabe.
• In the mid-1980s, she appeared in less successful films, including "Hanna K." (1983), which hurt her career, and she took a break from cinema to focus on her children.
• Clayburgh shifted to television films in the late 1980s, appearing in "Where Are the Children?" (1986) and "Miles to Go..." (1986).
• She returned to films with "Shy People" (1987), portraying a shallow, sophisticated Manhattan magazine writer.
• Clayburgh played Kitty Menendez, who was murdered by her sons, in "Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders" (1993).
• In the 1990s, she took on supporting roles, often typecast as an attractive maternal figure in films like "Rich in Love" (1992), "Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland" (1993), and "Naked in New York" (1993).
• Clayburgh had a semi-recurring role on "Ally McBeal" as Ally's mother and appeared on "The Practice" in the early 2000s.
• She played the wealthy socialite Letitia Darling in the ABC television series "Dirty Sexy Money" from 2007 to 2009.
• Her final film roles included "Love & Other Drugs" (2010) and "Bridesmaids" (2011), which she completed before her death.

Clayburgh's co-stars' memories of her

Kristen Wiig, who co-wrote and starred in Bridesmaids, said she felt "honoured" to work with Clayburgh on her last film. She described Clayburgh as having "a very maternal, nurturing spirit" and being "game for anything". Wiig also said she felt privileged to have Clayburgh saying things she had written, and that she was "amazing".

Producer Judd Apatow said that he and his colleagues wanted to honour Clayburgh's legacy without making her appear crass on film. He explained that they removed some of the dirtier jokes she had made during filming, as he "just thought, 'That can't be the last thing she ever says in a film'. Apatow also said that Clayburgh was "the nicest woman" and that he and his colleagues were all heavily influenced by her work and naturalistic acting style.

Director Paul Feig said he had no idea Clayburgh was sick, and that she was "awesome, every day". He also said that Clayburgh was sincerely happy to be doing that kind of comedy, and that it was a "special memory" for him.

Clayburgh's legacy

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 began her career in the late 1960s. Clayburgh was one of the first actresses to portray strong, independent, and feminist characters on screen. She was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her roles in 'An Unmarried Woman' (1978) and 'Starting Over' (1979). Clayburgh also received four Golden Globe nominations for her film performances.

Throughout her career, Clayburgh challenged herself by taking on diverse roles, from a valium-addicted documentarian in 'I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can' (1982) to a manipulative opera singer in 'La Luna' (1979). She worked with renowned directors such as Paul Mazursky, Alan J. Pakula, and Bernardo Bertolucci. Clayburgh's talent was recognised by the Cannes Film Festival, where she won the Best Actress Award for 'An Unmarried Woman'.

Clayburgh's career spanned decades, and she continued to take on supporting roles in the 1990s, playing attractive maternal figures in films like 'Rich in Love' (1992) and 'Naked in New York' (1993). She also appeared in television shows such as 'Law & Order', 'Frasier', and 'Ally McBeal'. Her final film role was in the acclaimed blockbuster comedy 'Bridesmaids' (2011), where she played the mother of Kristen Wiig's character.

Clayburgh passed away in 2010 at the age of 66 after a private battle with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Her legacy includes a body of work that challenged societal norms and inspired future generations of actresses. She is remembered not only for her talent but also for her maternal and nurturing spirit, as well as her willingness to take on roles that pushed boundaries and explored complex, flawed women.

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