Liam Neeson Opens Up For the First Time About Natasha Richardson's Death

By John Mitchell Posted Feb 15th 2011 11:41PM

Nearly two years after his wife, Tony-winning actress Natasha Richardson, passed away following a skiing accident, Liam Neeson is opening up for the first time about that terrible night in March 2009.

"I walked into the emergency [room] -- it's like seventy, eighty people, broken arms, black eyes, all that -- and for the first time in years, nobody recognizes me," the 'Taken' star told Esquire. "Not the nurses. The patients. No one. And I've come all this way, and they won't let me see her. And I'm looking past them, starting to push -- I'm like, 'F**k, I know my wife's back there someplace.'"

Neeson rarely speaks about his private life, and was initially hesitant to talk about Richardson with Esquire writer Tom Chiarella. However, while recounting a motorcycle accident that put him in the hospital in 2000, the Oscar-nominated star of 'Schindler's List' began to discuss the tragic parallels between the accident he survived and the one that took the life of his wife.

After striking a deer, Neeson lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a ditch, breaking his pelvis in two places. He was transferred to New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital, and Richardson, who was filming in Canada, rushed to be by his side. "I found out later they'd told her I wouldn't last the night," Neeson said. "Well, they never f**king told me that."

The scene would be repeated nine years later, only in reverse, with Neeson rushing from the Canadian set of the film 'Chloe' to be with Richardson, who had hit her head in a skiing accident.

After the fall, Richardson was initially lucid and simply asked to be taken back to her room, dismissing the ambulances that reported to the scene. Three hours later, however, the actress was taken to a small Canadian hospital after complaining of a headache. Within a few hours she was transferred to a larger hospital in Montreal. Neeson rushed from the set of 'Chloe' to be with Richardson, who had fallen into a coma as a result of a brain hemorrhage sustained during the fall.

The day after Richardson's accident, she was flown to Lenox Hill Hospital, where she died on March 18, 2009. On March 19, theater lights on Broadway and in London's West End were dimmed in honor of the respected actress and dedicated AIDS research activist.

liam neeson esquire

"What am I gonna do? How am I going to get past the security?" Neeson told Chiarella, recounting what was going through his mind when he arrived at the hospital. "And I see two nurses, ladies, having a cigarette. I walk up, and luckily one of them recognizes me. And I'll tell you, I was so f**king grateful -- for the first time in I don't know how long -- to be recognized. And this one, she says, 'Go in that back door there.' She points me to it. 'Make a left. She's in a room there.' So I get there, just in time. And all these young doctors, who look all of eighteen years of age, they tell me the worst."

According to Chiarella, Neeson stopped the interview briefly while discussing Richardson, blinking back tears while gazing across the eatery at members of the late actress's extended family, who were coincidentally at the restaurant -- a favorite of Neeson and Richardson's -- the day of his interview with Esquire.

The actor returned to the set of 'Chloe' immediately after Richardson's funeral. "I just think I was still in a bit of shock," he said. "But it's kind of a no-brainer to go back to that work. It's a wee bit of a blur, but I know the tragedy hadn't just really smacked me yet."

Neeson and Richardson have two teenage sons, Michael and Daniel.

"I think I survived by running away some. Running away to work. Listen, I know how old I am and that I'm just a shoulder injury from losing roles like the one in 'Taken,'" the actor told Esquire. "So I stay with the training, I stay with the work. It's easy enough to plan jobs, to plan a lot of work. That's effective. But that's the weird thing about grief. You can't prepare for it. You think you're gonna cry and get it over with. You make those plans, but they never work."

Neeson's full interview is featured in Esquire's latest issue, on newsstands Feb. 22.

Tags: liam neeson, natasha richardson

Comments

(122)

Wednesday 16 February

By rtaylortitle

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I admire elegance...there's so little of it left in Hollywood, journalism, music, one's standard of dressing without lowering oneself to tatoos, piercings, crack-showing clothes, et al. But, there's a time when elegance flies out the window. If you love someone deeply, terribly deeply, and then in a moment's notice they're gone, your deepest anger arises and that is expressed in angry words. Liam is a great, dynamic actor and, frankly, I would have been terribly disapointed if his language hadn't expressed his despair.

By gov111w

As a result of all the "Illegal’s" and other "non-payers", most ER rooms are crowded with lenghty unavoidable waits. As a result of this, most people tend to avoid going to the ER and getting caught up in that hasle. Whenever head injury is suspected, the trip to the ER is mandated !!!@!!

By SANDRA

Vote down Vote up Report this

THE ARTICAL WOULD HAVE MUCH BETTER IF HE HADNT USED THE F WORD SO MUCH.BUT MY HEART HURTS FOR JUST THE SAME...........

By Anon

I don't think he was trying to impress us. This wasn't a movie script that could be improved upon. He was speaking his mind. You people are idiots.

By Michael

I covered Richardson's funeral for a local paper and was touched when Neeson and the entire family came out of the church afterward and posed briefly for the press who was there. In their time of sorrow, they didn't have to do that and no one would have argued otherwise.

By Mimi

All this stuff about his mouth ???

We all grief at one time or another, believe me I have. Never
thought of using that language, but it's part of my upbringing.

The potty mouth is part of Hollywood, every film has that f word.
It stands for Fornification Of Carnal Knowledge, which is an
abreviation not a real word.

We express ourselves differently, so there it is.

By eskieme1970

Jennifer is totally out of line by saying that's how regular mean talk by using the "F" word. My husband does not talk that way. Sounds like Jennifer needs to wash her mans mouth out with soap.

By Jayne

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

He by using the "F" word was trying to get his point across as to how frustrated and upset he was as to what had happened to his wife. "potty mouth" is such an immature expression. The poor guy clearly still misses his wife. Have more understanding for him.

By David Marsh

Liam Neeson is a truly awesome guy and father, he is obviously very dedicated to his wonderful family. I feel just horrible about what happened to his wife. My thoughts are with him and his son's and her family too. Also, It is normal in my opinion to get emotional and to swear during or when describing tragic situations in life just like this situation when you are directly involved and to judge anyone by swearing in this tragic situation is just insensitive and inappropriate.

By Sharon M Rybak

I love Liiam Neeson...and using a few F's here and there doesn't make him a bad guy. I've watched TAKEN so many times, I know the dialogue by heart! What do you want the man to do, or say, when he is shocked and saddened?
Imagine yourself!

By geomcd

I still don't recognize him. I don't watch the garbage that he apparently thinks makes him a gift to humanity. I do feel very badly about his wife, but he needs his mouth washed out with soap. People with good English don't have to resort to such usage.

By Jmkin

" do feel very badly about his wife, but he needs his mouth washed out with soap. People with good English don't have to resort to such usage."

hahah....
Evidently your grasp of "good English" isn't really that good. There are quite a few errors in those two sentences. You may not curse, but your grammar is terrible. You're also holier-than-thou which is a flaw to discuss another time.

By Donna

I think they both were a beautiful couple. she is missed very much by many people. and Lliam ? he is in deep sorrow and probably dont realize how much he uses the F word. my brother would do that, talking to buisness people and saying F at every breath !

By donald

Hey. what is this, Pick on the Irish week? Oh what the hell. Have you heard the one about the Irishman who staggered out the bar and.....................

By ParrotLady

Liam can use any language he wants when he talks about that horrible night. In Ireland that salty term is not considered as offensive as it is here. My heart broke for him and his family when Natasha died, and I pray they will stay strong. I consider him a gentleman, language and all, and I wish him well as he faces raising his two young sons without a mother.

By Char

Liam N is the best and can say just how he really felt at the time of his wife's accident. He is the best and I would love for him to rescue me as he did in "Taken"! God bless you Liam N. and your children. Just trust and believe that God knows best.

Shut your fat f***ing mouth. =)

By sandra

ANOTHER SEWER MOUTH I SEE.

By JakeO

Which is more stupid and inappropriate.....the f word or using ER Room? F*** has a meaning, ER room makes no sense.

Friday 18 February

By Kevin

Absof##kinglutely

Page 6 of 7