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NATASHA RICHARDSON DEAD AT 45

Actress Natasha Richardson died today after she was declared brain dead and her family took her off life support.

“[Her husband]Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha,” Richarson’s spokesman Alan Nierob said Tuesday night.

“They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

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Richardson, 45, complained of a headache Monday shortly after a seemingly minor fall while skiing on a beginner trail at the Mont Tremblant resort in Canada.

She was rushed to a local hospital, then transferred to a bigger one in Montreal.

Later, when the seriousness of her condition became apparent, she was flown to New York and family members said their last farewells at her bedside in Lenox Hill Hospital.

The British born Richardson was the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and director Tony Richardson.

She starred in films including “The Parent Trap,” “Nell,” and “Patty Hearst” and won a Tony for her Broadway performance as Sally Bowles in the revival of “Cabaret.”

Additional reporting by Ed Robinson