Medical Examiner: Natasha Richardson Died of "Blunt Impact to Head"

The New York City medical examiner has made a ruling on what exactly killed Natasha Richardson.

Following an autopsy this morning, the agency determined that the Tony Award-winning actress succumbed to an "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head." The death was ruled an accident, said medical examiner spokeswoman Ellen Borakove.

A private service is being planned by the Greenwich Village Funeral Home.

The 45-year-old stage and screen star died Wednesday, two days after what was described as a minor fall during ski lessons on a beginner slope.

Richardson was lucid following the tumble Monday at the Mont Tremblant resort near Montreal. "She did not show any visible sign of injury, but the ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor," a spokeswoman for the resort told E! News.

Stage and screen stars from Broadway to Hollywood are mourning the tragic death of Natasha Richardson, and over the past 24 hours they have shared their thoughts and memories of the Tony winner.

Richardson and Liam Neeson wed in 1994, just before the release of Nell, which garnered costar Jodie Foster an Oscar nomination.

"Natasha was brilliant, beautiful, funny, talented beyond measure, as emotionally raw as she was razor sharp," Foster says. "Tasha loved fiercely and that love continues in all of us who knew her. May Liam, her beautiful boys and her loving family hold her close as they move through this tragic moment."

The entire New York Broadway community will pay respects to their darling Thursday evening by dimming all marquee lights at 8 p.m. for one minute.

Many others—from director Sam Mendes to actress Judi Dench—who worked with the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Richardson over the years also expressed their feelings.