Mark Rylance's wife Claire van Kampen dies age 71 on his birthday

Claire van Kampen, who was married to actor Sir Mark Rylance, has died at the age of 71. The director, who worked in the entertainment industry for decades, passed away on the birthday of her husband

Director Claire van Kampen, the wife of actor Sir Mark Rylance, has died aged 71.

She died on Saturday, which also marked her husband’s 65th birthday, in the German town of Kassel surrounded by her family after being diagnosed with cancer, a statement shared on behalf of Sir Mark and her daughter Juliet confirmed.

Van Kampen was a concert pianist, composer, playwright, theatre director and worked in various roles at Shakespeare’s Globe for around 20 years. She was also described as "one of the funniest and (most) inspiring women we have ever known", in the statement.

It added: "We thank her for imbuing our lives with her magic, music, laughter, and love. Ring the bell, sound the trumpets reverie, something is done, something is beginning. One of the great wise ones has passed."

The announced, signed from "Mark and Juliet Rylance" continued to share: "Claire has died of cancer on Mark Rylance's 65th birthday. Her youngest daughter having died in 2012, she leaves her eldest daughter Juliet Rylance, her eldest daughter, Juliet Rylance, her two husbands, and countless beloved friends in England and America."

Van Kampen's theatre credits include composing the music for the 1989 Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet starring Sir Mark, whom she married that same year. Later in her career she created original scores for Broadway productions of 2000’s True West, 2008’s Boeing-Boeing and 2010 comedy La Bete, as well as adaptations of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Richard III.

Paying tribute to Van Kampen on Twitter (X), The Royal Shakespeare Company wrote: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Claire van Kampen today. Our thoughts are with Claire's family and friends at this time. Co-Artistic Directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans share this message."

The message from the directors reads: "Claire was a true genius, not only in her music but also in her understanding of Shakespeare and of the relationship between actor, audience, text, music and silence in so many forms of storytelling. Her score for Pericles this season was a thing of wonder and beauty, which captivated audiences at the Swan and in Chicago alike. The world is a far more beautiful place for having had her in it. Our thoughts are with all those, near and far, who were lucky enough to know her."

Van Kampen also wrote the play Farinelli And The King which saw Sir Mark star as King Philippe V of Spain and was nominated for several Olivier Awards including best new play, and a number of Tony Awards. The director and composer trained at the Royal College of Music in London where she studied music theory and piano, specialising in the performance of 20th century music.

She went on to have a career as a composer and performer, writing and playing for theatre, radio, television and film soundtracks and the concert hall. In 1986, she began her theatre career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and with the Royal National Theatre the following year. She served as artistic associate at Shakespeare’s Globe from 1996 to 2006 when Sir Mark was the artistic director.

Van Kampen later acted as a musical consultant and resident composer to the subsequent artistic director Dominic Dromgoole from 2007 to 2015. She was also a creative associate of the prestigious Old Vic theatre in London.

Van Kampen was previously married to architect Christopher van Kampen, with whom she had two daughters Juliet and Nataasha. Her youngest daughter Nataasha, a filmmaker, died aged 28 in 2012 after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

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