What Happened To Natasha Richardson? Dennis Quaid Opens Up About Co-Star’s Tragic Death

Dennis Quaid recently discussed the potential for a sequel to his 1998 film The Parent Trap during an interview with Entertainment Tonight on August 20, 2024.

The actor mentioned this while attending the premiere of his new film Reagan, reflecting on the impact The Parent Trap had on his career.

He expressed deep reservations about a potential sequel to The Parent Trap, citing the absence of his co-star Natasha Richardson, who passed away in a skiing accident in 2009.

Quaid mentioned that the idea of making a sequel without Richardson “still breaks my heart,” highlighting the lasting impact her death has had on him.

In the 1998 film The Parent Trap, Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson played the parents of twin girls, Hallie and Annie Parker, who were separated after their parents’ divorce.

Lindsay Lohan starred in the dual role of the twins, who meet at a summer camp and, upon discovering they are sisters, plot to reunite their estranged parents.

The original The Parent Trap was released in 1961, and the version with Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, and Lindsay Lohan came out 37 years later in 1998.

While the film was a hit upon release, it has since achieved cult classic status. In his recent interview, Dennis Quaid reflected fondly on his time making the film, calling it a “beautiful movie.”

He expressed his belief that the movie will continue to be popular for years to come but noted that a sequel is unlikely, primarily due to the absence of Natasha Richardson.

“The Parent Trap was like, a whole new career for me. It’s so in my heart. It’s such a beautiful movie. And I think people will be watching that 100 years from now, I really do,” he told.

Dennis Quaid discussed the challenges of imagining a sequel to The Parent Trap without Natasha Richardson.

He mentioned that while they had considered a storyline where his character would give his daughters a vineyard, the idea of moving forward with the project without Richardson was “too painful” for him.

Natasha Richardson passed away on March 18, 2009, due to blunt-force trauma to the head from a skiing accident at Mont Tremblant in Quebec.

Initially, it was believed that the 45-year-old actress had not been seriously injured and she declined medical treatment at the scene.

Natasha Richardson was later hospitalized at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan in critical condition and passed away two days after the accident.

An autopsy revealed that she had an epidural hematoma, a condition that is treatable if diagnosed promptly.

Dennis Quaid’s upcoming film Reagan, set to be released on August 30, 2024, will feature him in the role of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

The film also stars Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan, Scott Stapp as Frank Sinatra, and Jon Voight as Viktor Petrovich.