Actress Richardson dies aged 45
British actress Natasha Richardson has died from head injuries sustained in a skiing accident, her husband Liam Neeson’s publicist has said.
Richardson, 45, daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave, fell on a beginners’ slope at the Mont Tremblant resort in Canada on Monday.
Neeson’s publicist said the family were devastated by the death of their “beloved Natasha”.
She died in a New York hospital where she had been transferred.
The accident happened while the actress was taking a supervised skiing lesson at the Quebec resort.
Richardson initially showed no sign of injury after the incident but about an hour later she was taken to a nearby hospital after feeling unwell. It was later confirmed her injuries were critical.
Irish actor Neeson, 56, flew from the set of his new film in Toronto to be with his wife as soon as he heard news of the accident.
She was flown from Canada to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, where her family live, on Tuesday.
Her husband, mother, Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, 72, and two sons, Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12, had gathered at her bedside.
Her sister, the Nip/Tuck actress Joely Richardson, was also pictured visiting the hospital.
Richardson’s death was announced shortly before midnight GMT. Neeson left the New York hospital in the back seat of a black people carrier at about 2030 local time (0030 GMT).
Alan Nierob, Neeson’s publicist, said: “Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha.
“They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”
Richardson starred in films and TV but won most acclaim for her stage work.
Part of the Redgrave acting dynasty, she is the daughter of Redgrave and director Tony Richardson
The Sunday Telegraph’s theatre critic, Tim Walker, said she never needed to ride on the coat-tails of her famous relations.
“The great thing about her was she was a great ensemble actress, she wasn’t one of these people who went out and decided that she wanted to be the big star and have everybody look at her,” she said.
“She had a sort of luminous presence on the stage, but off stage she was a very shy, easy-going, almost self-deprecating character who didn’t like being made a fuss of.”
Richardson, whose father director Tony died of Aids-related causes in 1991, was also on the board of the US-based charity amfAR, The Foundation for Aids Research.
A spokeswoman for the charity said she was a “dedicated Aids advocate” and an “eloquent spokesperson for amfAR”.
“She generously contributed her time and resources to amfAR for over 15 years,” she said.
“Natasha’s passion for the cause and tireless efforts gave hope and inspiration to the scientists and healthcare workers on the front lines of this deadly epidemic, as well as to the millions of people living with HIV/Aids around the world.”
Han Chae Young
Old Dogs - 2009