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The morning of March 16, 2009, brought sunny skies and rising temperatures to the Mont Tremblant ski resort in Québec, Canada, the cusp-of-spring day beckoning visitors outdoors to its cobblestone-lined streets and scenic mountain trails.

The resort’s guests that Monday included 45-year-old actress Natasha Richardson, who was ready to take on ski lessons with the same aplomb that produced celebrated screen roles in Patty Hearst and The Parent Trap , as well as a Tony Award-winning performance in Cabaret .

But what started as an idyllic day ended in tragedy, when a seemingly commonplace tumble on the slopes resulted in a severe brain injury and, ultimately, Richardson’s death. The actor left behind her husband, Liam Neeson , and their two sons, Micheál and Daniel.

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