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'Ally McBeal' and 'Dirty Sexy Money' actress, Jill Clayburgh, dies at 66
We knew her as the strong matriarch of a family of carpetbaggers in ABC's short-lived "Dirty Sexy Money," but her screen roles go back to the first female characters born of the feminist era in film.
Jill Clayburgh passed away at her Lakeville, Conn. home Friday (Nov. 5) at the age of 66, her husband, playwright David Rabe, tells The New York Times.
Clayburgh passed from chronic leukemia, which she had been struggling with for 21 years.
She burst onto the acting scene on Broadway in 1966 alongside Jack Klugman in "The Sudden & Accidental Re-Education of Horse Johnson" and went on to do several more productions including "Pippin" in 1972. She last appeared on the Broadway stage in 2006's "Barefoot in the Park" alongside Tony Roberts and Amanda Peet.
Clayburgh's film career includes Oscar-nominated performances in 1978's "An Unmarried Woman," "Starting Over" in 1979 and her turn opposite Walter Matthau in 1981's "First Monday in October."
Other than her TV role on "Dirty Sexy Money," Clayburgh also appeared on "Law & Order," "Private Practice," and played Ally's (Calista Flockhart) mother on "Ally McBeal."
Our condolences to her loved ones. She'll be missed.
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This is a sad day!!! She was and will always be known as one heck of an actress. I have to admit the only thing I saw her in was Dirty Sexy Money. She kept me hooked for those two short seasons. Her character Leticia Darling was the only thing that kept me watching that show. You will be missed by many. You are in a better place and no longer live in pain. My prayers are with her family at this time. I lost my mother two years ago to Leukemia. One day at a time.
Sad, God rest her soul.
Sincere condolences to Ms. Clayburgh's husband, family and those who loved her. I always admired her. She was a classy, talented lady, who will be missed.
Rent her movies. She truly was great. She could have played many of
the great Meryl-Sissy-Glenn-Sally roles of the 70s, 80s 90s, and would have been just as fine. A real loss.
dang what a shame, may she rip.
Great actress
Really elegant and classy.
Such a loss and she was still very young..RIP Jill.
Great actress, She will be missed.