Natasha Richardson, the versatile actress known for her nuanced performances on stage, television, and film, has died. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident in Canada on Monday, March 16, and was later transported to New York, where she passed away at age 45. In a statement, Richardson's husband, Liam Neeson, and their family said, "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."

On March 16, Richardson -- the British-born daughter of Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson, niece of Lynn Redgrave, and older sister of Nip/Tuck star Joely Richardson -- became the center of her own wrenching drama when she suffered a brain injury after a skiing accident at a resort in Canada. Her husband of nearly 15 years, Liam Neeson, left the set of Chloe, a drama he was filming in Toronto, to be with her. Over the next 24 hours, conflicting reports about Richardson's condition spread across the Internet, sowing confusion, disbelief, and sadness.

According to several accounts, Richardson's fall -- which occurred on a beginners' trail during a private lesson at the Mont Tremblant resort -- did not appear serious at first. "She did not show any visible sign of injury," the resort said in a statement to the Associated Press. After about an hour, however, Richardson began to complain of a headache and ended up at a hospital in Montreal. From there, she was flown by private jet to New York -- where she lived with Neeson and their two sons, Micheal, 13, and Daniel, 12 -- "so her family could say goodbye to her," a source told the reporter.