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Natasha Richardson Remembered
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 19, 2009
Modified Mar 19, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 19, 2009
Modified Mar 19, 2009
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Natasha Richardson's family broke their silence and released a statement letting the world know "their beloved Natasha" had died at Lenox Hill Hospital, following her fall skiing on Monday. Over the past few days, being kept alive on life support, visitors to the hospital (beyond her family) included her first husband producer Robert Fox, Lauren Bacall, Meryl Streep, and Joan Didion.
Others have communicated their sympathies through the media or in the case of Jane Fonda, on her personal blog. The actress wrote, "I wanted to go to the Lenox Hill Hospital where I was told she had been taken to see if there was anything I could do for Vanessa, any comfort I could bring but today was a two-show day and as the curtain went up tonight I heard the tragic news. It is hard to even imagine what it must be like for her family. My heart is heavy."
Martha Stewart broadcasted her condolences on Twitter, saying, "Just heard the tragic news about poor Natasha Richardson her family must be devastated. My sincerest condolences to all." Harvey Weinstein declared of the actress: "For all her talent and beauty, she was egoless." And even Lindsay Lohan, who played her daughter(s) in The Parent Trap remake, said, "She was a wonderful woman and actress and treated me like I was her own. I didn't see much of her over the years but I will miss her. My heart goes out to her family. This is a tragic loss."
There are more tributes from her peers over at BBC, where Sam Mendes (whose 1998 Broadway production of Cabaret landed Richardson a Tony award) said, "Natasha combined the best of Redgrave and Richardson—the enormous depth and emotional force of a great actor on the one hand, and the intelligence and objectivity of a great director on the other. She was one of a kind, a magnificent actress. She was also an amazing mother, a loyal friend, and the greatest and most generous host you could ever hope to meet. It defies belief that this gifted, brave, tenacious, wonderful woman is gone."
Meanwhile, not all media is currently stalking grieving family members outside of their apartments—NYMag called many outlets out for being "scoop-happy instant-media vultures." They also discuss the tragedy from a fan perspective, saying Richardson was "likably famous" and "when her unpretentious movies like The Parent Trap and Maid in Manhattan come on television, you'll watch them. Because you like her. Which is why the tragedy of her skiing accident hits so strangely home."
Tagged
actress
death
lenox hill
Natasha Richardson
tributes
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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