Irish-born Neeson worked as a forklift operator for Guinness, truck driver, assistant architect and an amateur boxer. He had originally sought a career as a teacher by attending Queens College in Belfast. However, in 1976, Neeson joined the Belfast Lyric Players' Theater and made his professional acting debut in the play "The Risen People". After two years, Neeson moved to Dublin's Abbey Theater where he would perform the classics. It was here that he was spotted by director John Boorman and was cast in the film Excalibur (1981), which dealt with the Arthurian legend. From there, he would act in a number of average films and Television Mini-series until he gained notice for his role as the deaf mute in Suspect (1987). Neeson would not be the lead in a movie until he appeared in Darkman (1990). Good performances in Leap of Faith (1992) and Husbands and Wives (1992) led to Neeson being picked for the role of Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993). For this role, Neeson would be nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe. In 1993, he made his Broadway debut in "Anna Christie" in which he co-starred with Natasha Richardson. For his role in this play, Neeson would be nominated for a Tony. When he returned to the big screen, Neeson would again co-star with Richardson in the Jodie Foster movie Nell (1994). In the next 2 years, Neeson would play characters close to his roots when he was the eighteenth century Scottish Highlander Rob Roy (1995) and the Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins (1996).
Natasha Richardson (3 July 1994 - present); 2 sons
On 11 July 2000 he fractured his right pelvis and chipped his left pelvis and sustained multiple abrasions to his legs after hitting a deer while riding his 1989 Harley Davidson motorcycle near his home in Washington, New York. He was thrown off the motorcycle just before it smashed into a nearby tree. A passing motorist found Neeson crawling along the roadside.
(1995) Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#74).
Was named an Officer of the Order of British Empire (OBE) by Britain's Elizabeth, Queen on New Year's Eve, 1999
Children, with Richardson, Michael Antonio (b. 1995) and Daniel Jack (b. 1997).
Loves fly-fishing
Was a boxer as a teen-ager in Northern Ireland, which resulted in getting his nose broken at the age of 15. Nevertheless, he went on to win the Irish Youth Championship. A brief blackout after one of his fights, however, caused him to give up the ring for good.
(October 1998) Won a libel case against newspapers who claimed that his marriage was in trouble.
(October 1997) Ranked #69 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
Has dated actresses Helen Mirren, Julia Roberts, Brooke Shields, Barbra Streisand and singer Sinead O'Connor.
First worked with future wife actress Natasha Richardson on the TV mini-series "Ellis Island" in 1984.
Liam Neeson stared in:
Excalibur 1982 ** 1/2
Suspect 1987 With Jessica ***
High Spirits 1988 With Jessica * 1/2
Darkman 1990 With Jessica ***
Schindler's List 1993 Showcase Orange Digital **** 1/2
Rob Roy 1995 With Kim Fair *** 1/2
The Phantom Menace 1999 Milford Showcase with Chris Hilton Digital ***
Gangs of New York 2002 w/ Suzy at Showcase Berlin *** 1/2
K19: The Widowmaker 2002 Suzy Digital *** 1/2
Love Actually 2003 at Showcase Orange ***
Batman Begins 2005 family on DVD Digital *** 1/2
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 2005 Hanna and others from COTE Digital ***
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian 2008 Hanna at Destina Middletown Digital ***
Taken 2008 Suzy and Hanna in Maine Digital ** 1/2
Ponyo 2008 Suzy and Hanna Digital ***
Clash of the Titans 2010 Family Digital **
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 2010 Family at Destina Middletown Digital ***
The A-Team 2010 Digital ***
The Next Three Days 2010 Suzy Digital ** 1/2
Unknown 2011 Suzy Digital ** 1/2
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues 2013 Suzy Digital * 1/2
The Lego Movie 2014 Hanna at Middletown ***
The Nut Job 2014 Suzy and Hanna Digital * 1/2
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs 2018 Suzy Digital *** 1/2
Widows 2018 Suzy Digital ***
The Commuter 2018 Digital ** 1/2