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UTTER SADNESS BECAUSE NATASHA RICHARDSON HAS DIED

I first met her on the set of “Julia.” She was a little girl but already
beautiful and graceful. It didn’t surprise me that she became such a
talented actor. I wanted to go to the Lennox 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.

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  1. I really wish there was some way I could send my thoughts to the family. I am so sad and have been since I first heard on Tuesday. She seemed like such a wonderful person and so talented too. My thoughts and prayers are with her family right now. This is a very difficult time for them.

  2. Sadness… it’s too easy to picture.. an injury.. a determined Brit showing strength and keeping a stiff upper lip.. declining treatment.. And start-struck medical staff not wanting to offend this creature they’ve placed on a pedestal… all culminating in tragedy.

    It’s hard to imagine … and a father and his children.. the loneliness they now own.

    Sadness. The Earth weeps.

  3. May GOD Bless the family of Natasha and may she rest in peace. I just lost a loved one seven weeks ago to a cereberal vascular accident (stroke). It is so sudden and hard to understand and accept. That is why we must always tell our friends and family how much we love them and how much they mean to us on a daily basis. Life is but a vapor.

  4. A terrible tragedy. She had more light in her eyes, than anyone I’d ever seen. My love and prayers to her family and friends that she left behind.

  5. I really haven’t been able to think about much else today. I saw Ms Richardson perform on stage in Cabaret and I was blown away by her gifts as an actor. Talent, beauty, and philanthropy aside, I can’t help but consider this loss as it must be felt by her dear ones who knew her as a mom, a wife, a sister, a daughter, and a friend. What an incredibly difficult time for those who knew her. Jane, I am sorry for your loss.

  6. Ms. Fonda,

    My heart is also heavy. It is a feeling that I can hardly describe, but a simple word to attempt to explain feelings of something that is sad beyond comprehension. Many Mom’s I’ve chatted with this morning feel the same thing, surrounding the lost of a Mother, a wife, a Daughter, a sister……I look at all of these aspects in my life because I am each of these……and the possibility of leaving any of my loved ones in such a sudden & shocking manner, it is more than I can bare to think about.

    I am sorry for you, as well, for the loss of a friend….infortunately I’ve also experienced the same. I sometimes find myself thinking about it suddenly & just shake my head as if to make it go away…..we’ll all remember her beautiful presence forever and as a Mom of a very precious 10 yr old little boy, I will forever keep her boys close to my heart……

  7. My heart goes out to the entire family. I am so sorry for your loss, Natasha was a wonderful mother, wife & actress. My family will keep you all in our prayers.

  8. I’m just glad to know that Jane Fonda has a blog.

    Oh and I hope that she never goes skiing.

    Nof

  9. So tragic. My love and thoughts to her friends and family who will have that hole in their lives, and miss the light and joy she bought.
    ~Jillian

  10. All of our hearts go out to Mr. Neeson, the children and Ms. Richardson’s family and friends.

    The news that Ms. Richardson has gone from this earth so quickly is terribly sad. What an amazing mother, wife and talented actress we have lost.

    I think she would have appreciated your blog and comments herein. Thank you for giving us a place to communicate our sorrow and grief.

    We all wish time will bring peace and healing to this brilliant woman’s family and friends.

  11. My mind and my heart are with Natasha Richardson’s family. I was shocked about this young mother’s death.
    Two weeks ago my young daughter (19) had a very bad snowboard accident. She got a long cut on her head and doctors told us that she had been lucky because blood found a “way out”. Now she is ok, only with some hair missing and a long scarf. She was no wearing an elmet. From now on she will!God blesses this family

  12. Agreeing with everything that has been posted…this is intolerably sad; I knew her a little bit, and am so heavy-hearted for her family/friends.
    To go on, one must, but sometimes it seems impossible, as when Elizabeth Taylor had to return to the set with pneumonia after learning about husband Mike Todd’s sudden death in his airplane crash, “The Lucky Liz”.
    I was only a child then, but it made an enormous impression…great love, great senseless loss.
    I loved you and Vanessa in “Julia”; saw it originally in 1979 in a theatre, many times on cable, now I own the dvd. So sad for your personal grief, which I share.
    People…wear helmets!!!!!

  13. I never met Natasha Richardson, but I was most definitely a fan and admired her work tremendously. I lost my beautiful husband, the brilliant singer, songwriter, Delaney Bramlett, 3 months ago to a gallbladder surgery. The void and deep sadness is overwhelming.

    Please accept my heartfelt condolences to everyone, particularly those closest to her, who loved Natasha Richardson.

  14. Dear Ms. Fonda, we are so sad here.

    My family sends our deepest sympathy to Ms. Redgrave, Mr. Neeson, and all family and friends of the wonderful Natasha Richardson.

    I heard that Broadway theaters will dim their lights on 19 March in honor of Ms. Richardson, and that theater marquees will be dimmed for one minute at 8 p.m. EDT, the traditional starting time for evening performances of Broadway shows. We will join in from the West coast with a moment of silence.

  15. I am very sad to hear about the passing of this lovely woman Natasha Richardson. I can tell by the many
    pictures that are being posted on the Internet of
    her and Liam Neeson that they were a team, they
    had a genuine affection and love for each other. Its
    gonna be very difficult to get through this trance.
    My prayers are with her family. Rest in peace.

  16. This is very sad, stunning and the ripple effect will be far reaching. To see any positive effect come from this, there should be a law making people wear a helmet when skiing. Some states have bicycle law, so why not skiing? They could call it “Natasha’s law”.

  17. Thank you for this post today…it is so very sad to lose this bright spirit. She was so lovely, both inside and out.
    I can only imagine the pain her family must feel. They areall in my thoughts, heart and prayers. Although I did not know any of them personally, each of these extrodinary people have been a apart of my life…just as you have Ms. Fonda.
    Blessings to you.

    Warmest wishes.
    Sue Combs

  18. This is a tragedy. My condolences to you Ms. Fonda and all her family and friends.

    I loved her as an actress and greatly admired her and Liam as individuals and as a couple. Oddly, Natasha’s and her Mother Vanessa’s roles in Evening helped me while grieving my parents deaths last year. I feel terrible for all concerned. This has hit me unusually hard for someone I never knew. She will be dearly missed by many fans.

  19. I am heavy hearted as well, and greatly grieved for her family. There are no words for such a tragic loss of such a beautiful person(inside & out). Her light will continue to shine.
    I pray for strength, comfort, and Love to sustain
    them.
    I along with so many will be thinking of you tonight as Broadway honors Natasha.

  20. I remember the first time I saw her was when she potrayed Zelda Fitzgerald in the tv movie “Zelda”. She was truly amazing especially when Zelda starts “loosing it” Natasha played it with perfection. She played some of the best roles ever written and will be sorely missed. My condolonces to her family and the close friends who loved her. Peace be with them during this tragic time.

  21. All I can think about his her poor mother, who I first came to love, along with you Ms. Fonda, when I saw Julia as a teenager. There’s nothing more unnatural than losing a child, no matter the age. Removing someone we love from life support is the most stupendously cruel decisions life can force on a family. Mine went through it three years ago with my beloved sister, who I lost at age 48. May Natasha’s family find a way to live beyond their loss and walk one another through the pain that surely lies ahead.

  22. I feel so sad…my heart goes out to her family

  23. i remember a long time ago i read an interview you did and you were talking about the scene in the restaurant with vanessa redgrave in “Julia” and you were overwhelmed by her hands….how big and expressive they were. i saw her on tv last night going into the hospital and she was talking behind the glass door to someone and you could clearly see her hands and how she was using them to communicate. for some reason i thought about her beautiful hands & that interview. i am so sorry for her….

  24. I can only imagine what her family must be going through, and for you Jane, who knew her. I was so shocked and saddened to hear this, and hope and pray for her family and all who knew her…Natasha Richardson seemed like such a special and wonderful person.

  25. Natasha Richardson’s sudden death illustrates how frail we are, how close we were 18 years ago and how lucky we were, we won the lottery, we have Jon here. This was not the same situation but unbeknown to us Jon had a brain tumour, he bumped his head at work. This bump then started a change of events, problems with vision and so forth. We got care and found out he had a tumour that had raptured. Emergency surgery, was performed. However, if the bump was of a greater impact he would have died almost immediatley. It shows how frail we all are. How our brains are the control centre for our physical well being. I am very saddened that this family did not have our good fortunate. However, who knows what is the in store for any of us. Perhaps this was her journey and their journey as a family. I hope for peace, acceptance, and slowly that they learn to appreciate the gift that they had among them for so many years. I hope that they can remember her without the saddeness, as this shock wears off. It takes so much time. I feel however they will. There seems to be a real family support system there. The boys, the husband, mom, sisters, aunts , uncles, cousins, all need each other now. However, their shared love of Natasha I hope will make them stronger and help them through this. My prayers have been with them since I heard, with the hopes of a postive result. Now that the worst has happen, my prayers continue to be with them, for God’s help in understanding this most tragic loss. For all of those who knew Natasha and who mourn her loss, my heart goes out to you. From what I have heard she was a wonderful talented human being. A great mother, wife, sister, daughter and we all are a little pooer by not having her amongst us any longer.

  26. It is so very sad and heart-breaking, but in times like this we must also celebrate her beautiful life and the time that she was here. It is hard, but we must grieve and celebrate at the same time. Rejoice in her life and what she gave this Earth while she was here; the laughter, the artistic talent she shared, the wonderful family she made… Heaven needed an angel back, and now she will look over her family and friends from a new and beautiful place. Ms. Fonda, you are helping to carry her memory on, as will all women who share their acting and beautiful talents with us. Perform like you have never performed before, in memory and honor of all women like Natasha who have gone too soon… You can be a guiding light through all of this. PERFORM YOUR HEART OUT LIKE ONLY YOU KNOW HOW TO DO!

  27. My heart just breaks for her family. Her boys, husband Liam Neeson, and her mom Vanessa Redgrave are in my thoughts and prayers. Natasha was a stunning actress as is Vanessa Redgrave. This is so wrong that Natasha died this way. My heart goes out to her entire family. May God be with them.

  28. What a beautiful lady Natasha was. She exihibited all the traits I wanted for myself as a mother. My heart goes out to her two boys, her husband Liam, her mother Vanessa, and her entire family. Her beautiful light was put out too soon. She had much, much more to give to the world, to share her talents and goodness. I continue to pray for her boys and Liam – remember how she loved you, with her entire heart and soul. Take care and God keep you near His Heart.

  29. I’m sadden by the news of Natasha Richardson death today. What a wonderful actress. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

  30. This is so terribly tragic. Words fail me, it’s so terrible. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to her family and friends at this most difficult time.

    Blessings

    – Reki

  31. What a loss to the world, as well as to her family and friends. She was a beautiful and brilliant actor who brought such joy to us all. So sad that this bright light is gone from the world.

  32. Tnx for your share about Natasha. May all those who are famous, who have played a “role” and been something, or someone to us all, be seen for themself during their time of departing. What is left is real. What is left is love.

  33. My heart is heavy too, Ms. Fonda

  34. All I feel to say is that an actress I loved, and still love, has passed away – and a woman I have admired my whole life has lost her daughter. It’s a tragedy. As Sam Mendes said she ‘combined the best of Redgrave and Richardson’. She was so like her mother in her passion and spirit. Vanessa ensured her children knew the importance of fighting for what they believe in and Natasha, like her mother, has done so many great things in the world to help others. She used her celebrity the best way she knew how and she did it with an amazing fire forever alight in her heart.

    They say that the good die young, in which case we should be so grateful that we got to have her for as long as we did. xx

  35. Hello Jane. I feel honestly sad for her family. Its hard to find the right words to say when you want to express your sadness for someone’s loss, especially in times like these. I just hope that her family recovers from their pain, and know that the public also mourns their loss.

  36. Such a horrible loss.

    Blessings to her family, in particular to her boys, husband and mother. They seemed like such a loving, balanced and well-adjusted family, who despite their fame and public visibility, were able to keep their boys out of the spotlight.

    Her tragic death reminds us to take each day as a gift, for that is all we have: now.

  37. How can one not be deeply saddened and touched by Natasha Richardson’s untimely death on many levels? My heart goes out to her mother, husband, sons and the rest of her family. I’m sure the family knows that you are there for them in spirit tonight.

  38. Yesterday was the oddest day. I was on my way to NC and continually praying for Natasha to live. When I arrived in NC my mother wanted to see ‘Taken’ with Liam Nieeson. Again, all I could think about what Natasha. Then I looked inside the movie theatre and there was a poster of some movie and Vanessa Redgrave’s name written at the bottom of it. Less than a minute later the song ‘Here Comes the Sun’ came on. It was the song from the remake of ‘The Parent Trap’ with Natasha. It was so sad. In everything I did yesterday, I was reminded of her. It’s a tragedy.

  39. I saw Ms. Richardson in “Cabaret” in 1998 and became a permanent admirer. She was and will remain a uniquely gifted artist. I knew Ms. Fonda had worked with Vanessa Redgrave and had remained friends with her…I am not surprised that Ms. Fonda chose to honor Natasha’s memory. It struck me as quite ironic that this tragic event occurred on a day when Ms. Fonda was scheduled to give two performances in her new Broadway show. Ms. Redgrave and, I can quite imagine, Ms. Richardson would have given their blessings as theater actors that it was appropriate and right for Ms. Fonda to go on. Hundreds had tickets for these performances. It is a testament to Ms. Fonda’s professionalism and humanity that she went on in such a time of heartbreaking grief. Blessed is the memory of Natasha Richarson and blessed in their grief are all of those who loved her dearly.

  40. I read your remembrance of Natasha Richardson with sadness. I was moved by your desire to offer any support you can to her mother, your friend and colleague, while at the same time facing the obligation you have as a performer. With the peculiar understanding that is shared by all performers, I can say with assurance that there must have been a special force in your theatre last night. It was good to hear your kind words about such a gracious and gifted person. Let’s remind our loved ones to consider wearing helmets in such circumstances and acting quickly on such accidents.

  41. My heart is broken for Natasha’s family and friends. She was a beautiful, talented actress. Just a terrible accident that has claimed the life of a very special person. Prayers for her husband and her sons. I know they will miss her beyond measure.

    Thank you Jane Fonda for putting the news of Natasha on your web site with your expression of sadness at her loss. Very, very thoughtful.

  42. Life is precious and have to be lived to the fullest!
    My heart goes for you Mrs. Fonda and the loss of your friend.

    In her death Mrs. Richardson have brought complete strangers together and made us think what really matters in life.

  43. I too feel very sad about the tragic death of Natasha Richardson. She was a remarkable actress and I followed her film career from the very beginning. She gave amazing early performances in Ken Russell’s GOTHIC and Paul Schrader’s PATTY HEARST. On stage I had the honor of watching her in CLOSER.

    An a young person in the 1970’s I feel that my life was forever changed for the better because of the inspiration of public figures like you and Vanessa Redgrave. In fact, I consider JULIA a key turning point in my life (I was 12 years old in 1977) in developing ideologically and personally. There really is no way to express the gratitude one has for people with the kind of courage that you and Ms. Redgrave have always displayed in your careers and your lives.

    Natasha Richardson was a beautiful inspiration and as Sam Mendes pointed out a great collaboration of the best qualities of her parents. Her commitment to AIDS/HIV causes and to free speech issues certainly continued her parents political legacy and her amazing talent their artisty. Part of what is so beautiful about being a fan of both you and Ms. Redgrave is the one has the opportunity to also witness the gifts of your children. Natasha and Joley are such wonderful actresses and Carlo Nero directed that amazing film version of THE FEVER starring his mother. I have also been inspired by watching the documentary by your daughter Vanessa and the acting of your son Troy (so great in SOLDIER’S GIRL and MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA).

    My sympathies go out to all of Natasha Richardson’s friends and family.

  44. I was at your Wednesday evening performance – and was amazed not only at your performance, but how you were able to put it all together under such sad personal circumstances – you are a real professional!

  45. I was so shocked to learn of Natasha Richardson’s accident on the 16th of March 2009. Especially since my little nephew Aden had died exactly one year ago on this date (Montreal’s South Shore). My mother is a very big fan of both you Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave and it is tragic that she and my brother’s family had gone out of Quebec to forget their tradgedy only to hear about Natasha’s family’s loss here. Fate can be so cruel to those left behind.

    My favorite film as a child was ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and I had not realized that Natasha was an extra or that her father had directed it. When I saw her in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Nell’ I didn’t realize she was Vanessa Redgrave’s daughter.

    My sympathy to Natasha’s friend’s and families.

    Nicholas of Canada

  46. Incredibly devastating. You can see that she and Liam had a love for each other that few human beings ever experience….We need to remember this family for a long time in our prayers – even after the news fades away, their grief will linger on …

  47. “… and may flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest”.

  48. My heart is heavy too and I am in shock over this tragic loss.
    May her family always be cormforted by her illuminating and cheerful presence.
    Marti

  49. Her family and in particular her boys are in my thoughts & prayers at this time.

  50. I remember seeing you and Vanessa Redgrave in “In Search of Debra Winger” talking about your experience of working and being parents. I don’t think there is anything worse than burying your child.

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