Lynn Redgrave, a vital and popular member of Britain’s Redgrave dynasty, died Sunday night. She was 67 and had waged a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
Speaking on behalf of her children – Ben, Pema and Annabel, who were with her – Redgrave’s publicist Rick Miramontez, confirmed to The Associated Press that Redgrave died peacefully at her home in Connecticut.
Launching upon the scene in the early ’60s, at the same time her elder (and more flamboyant) sister Vanessa made a splash, Lynn Redgrave earned an Oscar nomination for her turn as a gawky Bridgit Jones prototype in 1966’s Georgy Girl. She received another nomination for her supporting role as the stunned housekeeper in 1998’s Gods and Monsters.
Redgrave, born in London to thespians Rachel Kemspon and Michael Redgrave, made her stage debut in 1962 at the Royal Court Theatre in London. Her movie fame brought her across the Atlantic, and she played on stage and on TV in both Hollywood and New York. She was also the first of many celebrities who served as the spokesperson for the Weight Watchers program.
In 1967, she married actor-director John Clark, and they had three children. The marriage ended in divorce in 2000.
Only last month, on April 6, Redgrave’s elder brother, actor Corin Redgrave, died at 70 at his home in London. No cause of death was reported, but Corin Redgrave had several health setbacks in recent years, including a heart attack in 2005.
Last year, Lynn’s niece (and Vanessa’s daughter), actress Natasha Richardson, died from head injuries sustained during a ski accident.
“Our beloved mother Lynn Rachel passed away peacefully after a seven year journey with breast cancer,” her family said in a statement Monday. “She lived, loved and worked harder than ever before. The endless memories she created as a mother, grandmother, writer, actor and friend will sustain us for the rest of our lives. Our entire family asks for privacy through this difficult time.”