Claire van Kampen, theater director and the wife of Mark Rylance, was 71 when she died on his birthday on Saturday, Jan. 18, Rylance confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.

Actor Mark Rylance and his family confirmed the death of Claire van Kampen on Saturday, January 18, at the age of 71

Formally know as Lady Rylance, van Kampen died in the ancient town of Kassel, Germany, surrounded by her family, said a statement issued by Mark Rylance and van Kampen’s daughte

Claire van Kampen, a theater director, composer and wife of actor Mark Rylance, died Saturday morning. She was 71. Van Kampen died in Kassel, Germany, “surrounded by her family” following a battle with cancer, Rylance and her daughter Juliet shared in a statement. Saturday was also her husband’s 65th birthday.

Actor and playwriter Mark Rylance announced over the weekend that his wife, director and composer Claire van Kampen, passed away amid her battle with cancer on his 65th birthday. She was 71 years old.

Claire van Kampen, theatre director and wife of award-winning actor Mark Rylance, has died aged 71. She died on her husband's 65th birthday. Daughter Juliet confirmed her mother's death on behalf of her family.

Mark Rylance is mourning his wife, theatre director and composer Claire van Kampen, following her death aged 71 on Saturday. Mark confirmed the death of Claire, the first female musical director at both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre,