Natasha Richardson’s son Daniel Neeson posts heartfelt tribute to mark 15 years since her death in tragic skiing accident: ‘You are by my side every step of the way’
Natasha Richardson’s son Daniel Neeson has posted a heartfelt tribute to his mother to mark the 15th anniversary of her death.
Daniel – the son of Natasha and actor Liam Neeson – was 12 when his mother died following a skiing accident in Quebec, Canada on March 18, 2009.
The 27-year-old now runs a successful tequila brand called DE-NADA, making him one of the few in his family not to pursue a career in the arts – his older brother Micheál Richardson is also an actor, as are his aunt Joely and cousin Daisy Bevan.
Daniel wrote an emotional tribute to Natasha on Instagram on Tuesday, alongside a beautiful black and white photo of her from 1998.
He wrote: ‘Fifteen years since you left this plane forever. I look forward to reuniting one day, but for now I find comfort in knowing you are by my side every step of the way.”
Natasha Richardson’s son Daniel Neeson has posted a heartfelt tribute to his mother (pictured in 2008) to mark 15 years since her death
Daniel said he hoped he would “make her proud” with his alcohol brand and referenced a sweet story from his childhood in which he called Natasha the “OG Margarita mama!”
He continued, “Hopefully I make you proud. I think you would definitely be proud of my margarita skills. She was the OG Margarita mom!
“As a child, I would always ask her for a sip of hers, and she would say softly, ‘Not until you’re older.’ Little did she know that one day I would start my own tequila brand and have way too many margaritas at my fingertips.”
He concluded his message by talking about his close relationship with his aunt, Natasha’s sister Joely: ‘My aunt, @joelyrichardsonsinsta, who always brightens my day, said to me this week that sometimes we forget that we are on an eternally spinning planet located.
‘Change is inevitable and we must embrace it with open arms. Whether or not you believe in quantum physics, the past, future and present coexist. We are all connected here and there by love. The greatest life force. choose it above all else.”
Daniel was home in New York at the time of his mother’s accident, but his brother was by her side when the 2009 Tony Award winner fell and hit her head while skiing on the slopes. Their father Liam was in Toronto filming.
Natasha, who has appeared in Hollywood films such as The Parent Trap and Maid In Manhattan, was taking a beginners ski lesson when the accident happened.
She was not wearing a helmet and had initially said she felt fine before her condition worsened an hour later at her hotel.
Daniel wrote an emotional caption in which he hopes he makes his mother ‘proud’
Daniel (right, in 2008) – the son of Natasha (centre) and actor Liam Neeson – was just 12 when his mother died following a skiing accident in Quebec, Canada. Brother Michel is on the left of the photo
Daniel is pictured with his father Liam Neeson (right) and actor Paul Rudd
Liam had run to Natasha, but she had not initially said she was feeling unwell (pictured together in 2006)
Liam rushed to her side and was then flown to New York under intensive care, where she died in hospital two days later at the age of 45, with her family, including her mother Vanessa and sister Joely, at her bedside.
A post-mortem revealed that Richardson died of haemorrhage in her skull caused by the fall on a ski slope in Mont Tremblant.
In 2018, her other son Michel changed his last name to Richardson to honor his late mother and “keep her close.”
Joely posted her own tribute on Instagram, with a photo of a young Natasha with Ethan Hawke, which she said showed her sister’s “fun” and “naughty” side.
She also revealed that Natasha once told her she would like to ‘go’ while she was still ‘at her peak’ – words that came true in terrifying fashion.
Joely said: ‘Richard Eyre said at her memorial ‘it’s so hard to understand why she’s suddenly gone, because she was the most alive person I’d ever met’.
‘Tash widely celebrated other people’s achievements – got so excited and happy for them – and had created a mini Oscar for Ethan when he was nominated. We went to see ‘Moulin Rouge’ (film by Baz Luhrmann) in Ziegfeld in New York.
‘When we came out, she said to me, ‘If I had to go, I would want it to be like this – at my peak.’ Well, Tash, you did, 15 years ago today – loved to pieces ♥️.”
Natasha’s sister, actress Joely Richardson, posted a throwback photo of her with Ethan Hawke, which she said showed off her “fun” and “naughty” side
Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen also paid tribute to his late girlfriend Natasha, praising the “perfectly amazing” actress.
He gave a glimpse into their friendship with photos of them dancing together, vacationing and attending red carpet events.
The images also featured Richardson’s widower Liam Neeson and friends Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Ralph Fiennes and Kristen Johnson.
Speaking to the New York Post Previously, Daniel said his mother always urged him to follow his dreams.
He said: “She was one of my biggest role models. She always intended to “never feel like you have to be forced through a tunnel to fit in.” Do what you want to do, but do it your best and be generous with it.”
Daniel, who lives in Manhattan, said he “always loved being outdoors” and enjoyed hobbies such as fishing, hiking and hockey.
He studied theater and digital media in college, but never acted professionally. Instead, he used his education to develop his business talents.
Daniel, pictured with girlfriend Natalie Ackerman, has largely stayed out of the spotlight – unlike the rest of his famous family
Daniel admitted: “I love that I caught the bug as a kid to do something different [than acting].
“You have an idea, you work on the basics of it and then you present it,” he explained of his entrepreneurial skills. “And when you present it, you [make sure it] relate to people.’
He has been working with his professional marketing girlfriend Natalie Ackerman for about six years.
The couple have enjoyed countless trips to the ‘motherland’, Liam’s native Northern Ireland, as well as glamorous holidays to St. Tropez, Prague and the Czech Republic.