Culture

Natasha Richardson Cause of Death: 'Blunt Impact to the Head'

by Jarrett Martineau | March 19, 2009 at 10:40 am

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Actress Natasha Richardson died of a "blunt impact to the head", according to information released Thursday by the New York City medical examiner's office.

Richardson died Wednesday after having been hospitalized in Montreal, Canada, following a ski accident in which she suffered a traumatic injury to the head.

The official cause of her death was listed as "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head." Learn more about epidural hematoma.

A date for the actress' funeral has not yet been set however, "arrangements for the 45-year-old actress will be handled by the Greenwich Village Funeral Home".

Tributes to the late actress have been pouring in from across the entertainment community.

In New York City, all of the theatres on Broadway will dim their lights on Thursday evening as a tribute to Richardson.

Other stars, including Lindsay Lohan, Jane Fonda, and Ralph Fiennes also spoke publicly in honour of Richardson's life, career, and friendship.

Here are Fiennes' heartfelt words:

"For everyone who knew and loved her, Natasha's death is a terrible, devastating loss. She was a star. A great actress, a beautiful woman, a fiercely loyal friend, a brilliant and generous companion," said Fiennes, 46, a longtime friend who costarred with Richardson 2001's Maid in Manhattan. "She was an adoring and loving wife and mother. She was unique. My thoughts and prayers go out to Liam and her beautiful sons, Michael and Danny and to all her family. I cannot imagine a world without her wit, her love, her mischief, her great, great talent and her gift for living. I loved her very much. She was a supreme friend. I shall miss her deeply."

Director Sam Mendes also offered his deep condolences:

"It defies belief that this gifted, brave, tenacious, wonderful woman is gone," said Sam Mendes, who directed the 45-year-old stage and screen star in her Tony-winning turn in Cabaret in 1998.

Not surprisingly, fans of Natasha Richardson's work also flooded websites with "condolences, tributes and discussions of their favourites of her many film, television and theatre roles."

For more on Richardson's life and career, please see NowPublic's featured news coverage of Natasha Richardson

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Dodik (not verified)

at 08:37 on March 20th, 2009

Greenman 2008

at 12:21 on March 20th, 2009

Such a sad and tragic end. Like her mother and grandfather, I believe her true home was the theatre, but she also left us with some interesting performances on film.