Liam Neeson reflects on family ‘pulling together’ after wife Natasha Richardson’s tragic death aged 45
Liam Neeson has reflected on how his family came together after the tragic death of his wife Natasha Richardson in 2009.
British actress Richardson died of an epidural hematoma on March 18, 2009, two days after suffering a head injury in a skiing accident. She was 45.
Neeson, now 72, had to raise their two young sons Micheál, 29, and Daniel, 28, – who were just 13 and 12 years old when their mother died.
The Taken star shared People about the accident: ‘It was a terrible thing to happen.’
He praised Natasha’s sister Joely Richardson and mother Vanessa Redgrave – who are also both critically acclaimed actresses – and said: ‘Everyone has just pulled together. Vanessa and Joely were exceptional. We were lucky in a lot of ways.”
Liam Neeson has reflected on how his family ‘came together’ after the tragic death of his wife Natasha Richardson in 2009 – photo 2008, five months before Natasha’s death
The Taken star, 72, said in a moving interview that the accident was ‘a terrible event’
Micheál changed his surname to Richardson in 2018 to honor his late mother and starred alongside his father in the 2020 comedy-drama Made In Italy.
Speaking about his eldest son following in his parents’ footsteps, Neeson said: ‘I think Natasha would be proud. I hope so.’
Daniel was home in New York at the time of his mother’s accident, but his brother was by her side when the Tony Award winner fell and hit her head while skiing on the slopes in 2009.
Liam was in Toronto filming.
Natasha, who has appeared in Hollywood films such as The Parent Trap and Maid In Manhattan, was taking a beginners ski lesson when the accident happened.
She was not wearing a helmet and had initially said she felt fine before her condition worsened an hour later at her hotel.
Liam rushed to her side and was then flown to New York under intensive care, where she died in hospital two days later with her family, including her mother Vanessa and sister Joely, at her bedside.
A post-mortem revealed that Richardson died of haemorrhage in her skull caused by the fall on a ski slope in Mont Tremblant.
Neeson, now 72, had to raise their two young sons Micheál, 29, and Daniel, 28 – who were just 13 and 12 years old when their mother died – pictured in November 2008
He praised Natasha’s sister Joely Richardson and mother Vanessa Redgrave – who are also both critically acclaimed actresses – and said: ‘Everyone has just pulled together. Vanessa and Joely were exceptional. We were lucky in many ways’ – pictured together in 2000
Neeson and son Micheal starred in Made in Italy in 2020 – Speaking about his eldest son following in his parents’ acting footsteps, Neeson said: ‘I think Natasha would be proud. I hope so’
Liam and Natasha married in 1994 after meeting the year before when they were cast in the Broadway play Anna Christie
In 2018, Michael changed his last name to Richardson to honor his late mother and “keep her close.”
Liam and Natasha married in 1994 after meeting the year before when they were cast in the Broadway play Anna Christie.
Neeson dated businesswoman Freya St. Johnston in 2010 but split in 2012 – amid reports Neeson wanted to spend more time with his sons in New York City