Clayburgh daughter delays Broadway show

The daughter of actress Jill Clayburgh has cancelled a number of performances following the death of her mother.

People reports that Lily Rabe has delayed her Broadway debut in order to properly grieve. Rabe had been set to appear in a new adaptation of Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice.

It was announced earlier today that Clayburgh passed away last night following a long battle with leukaemia.

Rabe's understudy will take over the actress's role until she returns, and the show's opening performance will be postponed in order to properly prepare.

Actress Jill Clayburgh dies, aged 66

Jill Clayburgh has died at the age of 66 following a long battle with leukaemia.

The Hollywood actress, best known for starring opposite Burt Reynolds in 1979's Starting Over, passed away on Friday at her home in Lakeville, Connecticut.

The AP reports that Clayburgh has been suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia for over 20 years.

During her career, the star was nominated for Academy Awards for Starting Over and 1978's An Unmarried Woman, for which she won the 'Best Actress' prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Clayburgh has found television roles in recent years, including in Law & Order, Nip/Tuck, Ally McBeal and Dirty Sexy Money.

She is survived by her husband, screenwriter David Rabe, and three children, Lily, Michael and stepson Jason.