Less than 24 hours after she officially passed, we are learning more about Natasha Richardon’s life and death.

Earlier today, the New York City Medical Examiner’s office determined the 45-year-old’s death was a simple accident caused by “blunt impact to the head.”

Meanwhile, friends and colleagues have been showering Richardson’s family members with kind words about the actress.

Jodie Foster (her Nell costar):

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

Meryl Streep:

“Tash was the warm sun in the center of a large constellation of family, friends, all of those lucky enough to know her - she is irreplaceable in our lives; she gave us so much, so generously - her legacy is the love that connects us all.”

Mia Farrow:

“Natasha is irreplaceable. I cannot think of anyone kinder, more generous, thoughtful, smarter or more fun. She is the godmother of two of my children. The Neesons and Vanessa [Redgrave, Richardson’s mother] have always made me feel a part of their wonderful family. My thoughts and prayers are with them.”

Ralph Fiennes (her Maid in Manhattan costar):

“For everyone who knew and loved her, Natasha’s death is a terrible, devastating loss. She was a star. A great actress, a beautiful woman, a fiercely loyal friend, a brilliant and generous companion. She was an adoring and loving wife and mother. She was unique. My thoughts and prayers go out to Liam and her beautiful sons, Michael and Danny and to all her family. I cannot imagine a world without her wit, her love, her mischief, her great, great talent and her gift for living. I loved her very much. She was a supreme friend. I shall miss her deeply.”

Lindsay Lohan (her Parent Trap costar):

“She was a wonderful woman and actress and treated me like I was her own. I didn’t see much of her over the years, but I will miss her. My heart goes out to her family. This is a tragic loss.”

Padma Lakshmi (Richardson was a recent guest on Top Chef):

“She was great. She was lovely. She was just like one of the gang. She was very, very articulate. She was very, very opinionated. She was very compassionate. She had a very sophisticated palate.”

Dame Judi Dench (her costar in a 1987 TV production of Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts):

“She had an incredibly luminous quality that you seldom see, and a great sense of humour. I thought she was a really great actress and seemed to simply shine in both film and theatre. It’s always difficult if you have parents in theatre, it puts a very strange pressure on the children. I have no doubt [great work was to come]. It’s been so shocking, really shocking - I hope everyone leaves the family alone to pick up the pieces.”

Blythe Danner:

“I can’t talk because I started crying. I’m heart broken. She was so kind to us when Bruce [Paltrow, Danner’s late husband] was ill. She’s so generous. I don’t think that I can handle it.”

Jane Fonda:

“I first met her on the set of Julia [the 1977 drama, starring Richardson’s mother, Vanessa Redgrave]. She was a little girl but already beautiful and graceful. It didn’t surprise me that she became such a talented actor. I wanted to go to the Lenox Hill Hospital where I was told she had been taken to see if there was anything I could do for Vanessa [Redgrave], any comfort I could bring, but today was a two-show day and as the curtain went up tonight, I heard the tragic news. It is hard to even imagine what it must be like for her family. My heart is heavy.”

Sam Mendes (the director behind her Tony award-winning performance in Cabaret):

“Natasha combined the best of Redgrave and Richardson: the enormous depth and emotional force of a great actor on the one hand, and the intelligence and objectivity of a great director on the other. She was one of a kind, a magnificent actress. She was also an amazing mother, a loyal friend, and the greatest and most generous host you could ever hope to meet. It defies belief that this gifted, brave, tenacious, wonderful woman is gone.”

Alan Cumming (her Cabaret costar):

I, like everyone, am totally devastated by the sudden death of Natasha Richardson. The term ‘life force’ seems trite but that is what she was: a woman who powered through life and fascinated everyone she encountered. I have been thinking about the times I spent with her since I heard the news of her tragic accident, and the strongest memory I have is of her laughter, her unmistakeable throaty laugh. I think that’s a great way to remember someone.

She was a brilliant actress. I will never forget her Blanche Dubois. It was almost too much, too real and raw. Liam and the boys and her whole family have lost an amazing woman. We all have. Goodbye, darling.

At 8:00 PM tonight, the theater community will pay tribute to the Tony winner by dimming the lights on Broadway.