NYP99051601 - 16 MAY 1999 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA: Actress Natasha Richardson, wife of actor Liam Neeson, who stars in the film "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace", waves to the crowd, May 16, as she arrives at the New York premiere the film at the Loews Astor Plaza theatre. iw/ep/Ezio Petersen UPI | License Photo

NYP2001120209 - 02 DECEMBER 2001 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA: Husband and wife acting team Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson attend the December 2, 2001 New York Film premiere of IRIS. rlw/ep/Ezio Petersen UPI | License Photo

NYP2002120905 - NEW YORK, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Actress Natasha Richardson and husband/actor Liam Neeson pose for the media at the Dec. 9, 2002 New York premiere of his new film, "Gangs of New York," which was directed by Martin Scorsese. mk/ep/Ezio Petersen UPI | License Photo

Actress Natasha Richardson poses with her husband actor Liam Neeson at the April 26, 2005 opening night party for the Roundabout Theatre Company production of Tennessee Williams play "A Streetcar Named Desire" which stars Richardson and John C. Reilly. (UPI Photo/Ezio Petersen) | License Photo

Natasha Richardson poses for pictures at The White Countess Premiere at the Paris Theatre on November 21, 2005. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo) | License Photo

Natasha Richardson poses for pictures at The White Countess Premiere at the Paris Theatre on November 21, 2005. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo) . | License Photo

Natasha Richardson (carrying her new Samsonite luggage) arrives for the launch party for the 2007 Samsonite Black Label Collection at Eyebeam in New York on November 14, 2006. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) | License Photo

Actress Natasha Richardson poses with husband/actor Liam Neeson at the August 9, 2005 New York premiere for her new film "Asylum" (UPI Photo/Ezio Petersen) | License Photo

NEW YORK, March 17 (UPI) -- Natasha Richardson is brain dead after suffering a head injury in a Canadian skiing accident, a source close to her family told the New York Daily News.

OK! magazine had reported on its Web site that Richardson had died after her loved ones decided to take her off life support Tuesday. However, the story was later removed without an immediate explanation. Time Out New York also reported her death on its Web site Tuesday, but later issued an apology stating Richardson was brain dead, but still alive.


The British-born actress is the daughter of stage and film great Vanessa Redgrave and the late director-producer Tony Richardson. She also is the sister of actress Joely Richardson and the wife of Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson, her co-star in the 1994 movie "Nell."

She has two sons with Neeson -- 13-year-old Micheal and 12-year-old Daniel.

Richardson appeared in the movies "Gothic," "Blow Dry," "The Parent Trap," "Haven," "Maid in Manhattan," "Asylum" and "The White Countess." She won a Tony Award for her work in the Broadway revival of the musical "Cabaret."

"Batman Begins," "Schindler's List" and "Michael Collins" star Neeson can be seen in the current release "Taken."

He left the Toronto set of his movie "Chloe" immediately to fly to Montreal where his wife was hospitalized after her accident Monday, a representative for the film told IrishCentral.com.

The Daily News said Neeson accompanied Richardson on the flight home from Montreal to New York where her family gathered Tuesday to say goodbye to the actress.

Richardson reportedly sustained her injuries while skiing on a beginners' slope at a Quebec resort with at least one of her sons.

"(Richardson has) been on life support since this morning," an unnamed source close to the family told the newspaper. "She is brain dead."