Jill Clayburgh: Broadway to dim lights in her memory

The Broadway community mourns the loss of Jill Clayburgh, who passed away 5 Nov at age 66. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in her on 9 Nov 2010, at exactly 7pm for one minute.

Paul Libin, Chairman of The Broadway League and Executive Vice President of Jujamcyn Theaters, said, "Jill Clayburgh was a versatile and talented actress. I had the distinct pleasure of working with her in Noel Coward's 'Design for Living' at my Circle in the Square Theatre. Her performances on Broadway and in film and television will be missed by many of us who have been fans of hers for many years. The Broadway community mourns her loss and extends our sympathies to her family."

Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, continued, "Thanks to the talents of Ms. Clayburgh, her husband David Rabe and daughter Lily Rabe, this family has had significant impact on Broadway, both past and present. We are grateful for the memories of her performances, and our thoughts are with her family and friends." Jill Clayburgh was an iconic actress who starred in such notable projects as Broadway's 'Pippin' and the film "An Unmarried Woman." Ms. Clayburgh was born in New York City in 1944, attended Sarah Lawrence College, and made her Broadway debut with 'The Sudden & Accidental Re-education of Horse Johnson' in 1968.

On Broadway, Miss Clayburgh appeared in a revival of Noel Coward's 'Design for Living,' the original production of Tom Stoppard's 'Jumpers,' and was the leading lady of Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock's Tony Award nominated 'The Rothschilds' in 1970 and Stephen Schwartz's Tony Award nominated 'Pippin' in 1972. After appearing in 'Jumpers,' Ms. Clayburgh began her film career with a performance that defined an era in 1978 with Paul Mazursky's "An Unmarried Woman." Ms. Clayburgh went on to receive acclaim for her film, television and stage work including the film "Starting Over." Most recently, she appeared on Broadway in Richard Greenberg's "A Naked Girl on the Appian Way" and the 2006 Broadway revival of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park."

Ms. Clayburgh is survived by her husband, playwright David Rabe, son Michael Rabe, stepson Jason Rabe, and daughter Lily Rabe who is currently starring on Broadway in "The Merchant of Venice."