- Title: USA: Broadway stars react to Natasha Richardson's death
- Date: 23rd March 2009
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND (FILE) (REUTERS) NATASHA RICHARDSON WALKING TOWARDS REPORTER NATASHA RICHARDSON AND MOM VANESSA REDGRAVE TALKING TO REPORTERS ON THE RED CARPET
- Embargoed: 7th April 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA7WWPS3AM3VCHKENP8W7PUIE16
- Story Text: Broadway luminaries, many of whom were close friends of Natasha Richardson, paid tribute to the star on Friday (March 20) stressing she will be greatly missed by the theatre community. The 45-year-old died on Wednesday (March 18) from a severe brain injury in a skiing accident in Canada earlier this week.
Matthew Broderick who knew her well said she loved to entertain. He often went to her house for dinner parties and she always remembered what she had served her guests on previous occasions. "She was just the perfect big hostess mom for a lot of us so that missing is - never mind her hilarious sense of humour and how much fun it was to be with her but a lot of us who got together because of her probably will drift around now," he said.
"She was very important to us."
Nathan Lane who met Richardson a few times said his thoughts were with her family. "It's obviously a loss to the theatre community but really you think about Liam and their children and the family. You know my heart goes out to them. It was such a tragedy.
Richardson had been hospitalized in New York since Tuesday (March 17).
Her husband, actor Liam Neeson, her two sons Michael, 13, and Daniel Jack, 12, and members of her immediate family including her mother, actress Vanessa Redgrave were at her side.
"What a loss," said John Goodman. "She's one of the most gracious people I've ever met. I knew her father. I worked with her sister. I met her a few times and she was just lovely. Wow, what a great hole she leaves."
British actor Jonathan Cake who is in New York for theatre rehearsals said he was very close to the actress.
"She was the most approachable person you could possibly imagine but she glowed," he said. "She glowed as a person and you don't see that very often and there's something about that in life which is glorious to be around but on stage it's as though she had her own lighting. She - it's just impossible to express what a loss it is."
Richardson starred in numerous Hollywood movies including "The White Countess" with Ralph Fiennes and won a Tony Award in 1998 for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in "Cabaret". - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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