NEW YORK, New York --

Star of stage and screen Natasha Richardson died Wednesday following a serious head injury on a Canadian ski slope on Monday. She was 45.

Richardson’s husband, Liam Neeson, and her family released a statement on Wednesday afternoon to Access Hollywood confirming the news.

“Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha,” the statement read. “They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

Richardson’s accident occurred at Station Mont Tremblant near Montreal while the Tony-winning star was taking a skiing lesson.

“Natasha Richardson fell in a beginners trail while taking a ski lesson at Station Mont Tremblant,” a rep for the ski resort said in a statement released to Access. “Approximately an hour after the incident Mrs. Richardson was not feeling good. An ambulance was called and Mrs. Richardson was brought to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Ste-Agathe and was later transferred to Hospital du Sacre-Coeur.”

Upon news of the accident, Richardson’s husband, Neeson, who was filming the movie “Chloe,” in Toronto, rushed to his wife’s side.

On Tuesday, Richardson was flown to the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, where family and friends gathered, including sons Micheal Richard Antonio, 13, Daniel Jack, 12, sister Joely Richardson, mother Vanessa Redgrave and aunt Lynn Redgrave.

Richardson was the elder daughter of Oscar-winning Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson. Her sister, Joely, is also an actress, best known for starring in the TV series “Nip/Tuck.”

Richardson’s screen work included “Gothic,” “A Month in the Country,” “Nell” (in which she appeared with her then-future husband, Neeson), “The Parent Trap” and “Maid in Manhattan.”

Richardson won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Sally Bowles in the 1998 revival of “Cabaret” on Broadway.

Richardson and Neeson wed in 1994. Their first son, Micheal Richard Antonio, was born in 1995, and their second, Daniel Jack, the following year.

In January, the actress starred alongside her mother in a one-night benefit concert version of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical “A Little Night Music,” at Studio 54 in New York.

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keep your Access to everything in Hollywood! Breaking news and personal commentary from Nancy, Billy, Tony, Shaun, Maria & all of our producers! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter now!