Jill Clayburgh Dies At 66; One Of 25 Greatest Actresses In Hollywood

Jill Clayburgh, voted one of Entertainment Weekly's 25 greatest actresses, has died at 66 years old and after a 21-year battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, according to The Boston Channel. The New York City born daughter of a wealthy family produced an incredible body of work that's spanned 30 years.

Clayburgh's first major role was Portnoy's Complaint in 1972. That was followed by her amazing role in An Unmarried Woman in 1978, for which Clayburgh received an Oscar nomination. Jill received yet another Oscar nomination for her role in Starting Over in 1979. But Oscar success escaped her and over time, top roles passed her by.

But Clayburgh, along with Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft, Shirley MacLaine, and Pam Greer, carved out an iconic image of the empowered American woman, the symbol of social change in the 70s.

Eventually, television would benefit from Clayburgh's talent, as she starred on such shows as Ally McBeal and most recently Dirty, Sexy Money.

Clayburgh is survived by her husband Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe, and her son, Michael Rabe and daughter, actress Lily Rabe.