Friends and colleagues shared their condolences over the death of Natasha Richardson with her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, left, and sister, actress Joely Richardson, in Manhattan Thursday night. (ABC-TV/Associated Press)

Actors Liam Neeson and Vanessa Redgrave ventured out to Broadway Thursday night, attending the New York theatre community's evening tribute to the late Natasha Richardson.

Richardson's husband and mother were greeted by a host of friends and fellow performers as they watched Broadway's theatres dim their lights in her memory at 8 p.m., the traditional start time for evening performances.

Richardson's sister, actress Joely Richardson, was also on hand, with a host of peers — including Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker and Ralph Fiennes — who offered comfort to the grieving family following Richardson's death on Wednesday.

Though her resumé included film and television roles, Richardson was perhaps most celebrated as a stage actress, who won numerous Broadway accolades, including for Cabaret, Anna Christie (in which she starred alongside Neeson) and a recent one-night performance of A Little Night Music (performing opposite her mother).

The New York medical examiner's office has ruled the death of the 45-year-old stage and screen star an accident resulting from an "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head" after she suffered a fall at Quebec's Mont Tremblant ski resort on Monday.

Fiennes, who appeared with Richardson in films such as The White Countess and Maid in Manhattan, hailed his late co-star as "a great actress, a beautiful woman, a fiercely loyal friend, a brilliant and generous companion."

"I cannot imagine a world without her wit, her love, her mischief, her great, great talent and her gift for living," he said.

"I loved her very much. She was a supreme friend. I shall miss her deeply."

The family is expected to hold a private funeral in the coming days.

Egoyan 'devastated' for Neeson's loss

Neeson had been on the set of Atom Egoyan's new film Chloe in Toronto at the time of Richardson's accident north of Montreal. Producers said earlier this week that he rushed to join her as soon he learned of the incident.

In a statement, the film's producers said that shooting will continue with scenes focusing on Neeson's co-stars, including Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried.

"There are some scenes with Liam Neeson which have not been completed, however, we do not feel this is the time to address that matter. Our concern is for Liam and his family at this difficult time," the producers said.

Egoyan added in another statement that he had met Richardson in New York while working on a play with Neeson in 2008.

"Her intense pride and affection for her husband was so clear, as was his passion and love for her. I'm so devastated for Liam's loss," he said.

With files from the Associated Press