March 19, 2009

Actress, amfAR Board Member Natasha Richardson Dies After Skiing Accident

Tony Award–winning actress and Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) board member Natasha Richardson died March 18 in New York City after suffering a head injury in a skiing accident, The Guardian reports. She was 45.

A member of the Redgrave acting dynasty—the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and director Tony Richardson—the star became heavily involved with amfAR following the AIDS-related death of her father in 1991.

“This is a catastrophic loss for the family, and it is a terrible loss for amfAR and the fight against AIDS,” said a spokeswoman for the charity. “She generously contributed her time and resources to amfAR for over 15 years.”

Richardson appeared in films such as Maid in Manhattan and Nell—while filming the latter she met her husband, actor Liam Neeson—and she won a Tony Award for best actress in a musical for her performance as Sally Bowles in Sam Mendes’s Broadway production of Cabaret in 1998.

A statement released on behalf of the family read: “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.”

Search: Natasha Richardson, amfAR, Broadway, Tony Richardson

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments: