Throughout his nearly 50-year career, Liam Neeson has played many memorable roles, including a Jedi Master, a kind-hearted man in a tough situation, a charming widower, and a protective father in the Taken movies, which made him a famous action star.
Now at 72, Neeson has shared that he's not sure if he can still throw a punch like he used to and is thinking about retiring because “it has to end at some point.”
Keep reading to find out more about this news that might break the hearts of his fans!
Liam Neeson is a renowned Irish actor celebrated for his versatility in portraying a wide array of characters across various film genres. His career gained significant traction in the early 1990s with his portrayal of Oskar Schindler in the critically acclaimed film Schindler's List, which garnered him considerable recognition and multiple award nominations.
Over the subsequent decade, the Oscar-nominated actor participated in a diverse range of films, encompassing charming romantic roles as well as the iconic character of a Jedi Master in the Star Wars franchise, the largest cinematic franchise in history.
Neeson then transitioned into the action genre with the film Taken (2008), utilizing his “very special set of skills.” This pivotal career shift proved to be immensely successful.
The actor, known for his role in Love Actually, surprised many by embracing high-octane thrillers. At the age of 56, Neeson revealed a new dimension of his talent as a leading man in action films, demonstrating his ability to adapt and maintain popularity across various genres and audiences.
Taken achieved remarkable success, with Neeson's portrayal of Bryan Mills, a former CIA operative on a mission to rescue his abducted daughter, striking a chord with viewers.
“It just seemed to have touched something in the psychic nerve of moviegoing audiences,” the father of two remarked in an interview with People in October 2024.
Liam Neeson's tough and serious role as a determined dad turned him into an unexpected but super effective action hero. One of the most famous moments in the movie is when Mills makes his unforgettable threat over the phone, which really changed the game for action movies.
The film did so well that it not only made Neeson a big name in action films later in his career but also led to two popular sequels and more roles like that in other action flicks.
Hans Petter Moland, who directed Neeson in Cold Pursuit (2019) and the upcoming movie Thug, said, “When he's really into the character, you can see the hurt and pain. He truly becomes that person.”
Even though Neeson has had a lot of success in action movies and directors trust him to deliver powerful performances, the star of Absolution recently shared that he plans to step back from the genre because of his age.
At 72 years old, Neeson believes it's time to slow down a bit. He still wants to do a lot of his own stunts and fight scenes, though. This is partly because he works closely with his longtime stunt coordinator and double, Mark Vanselow. Their teamwork started with the movie Taken and has been really important for Neeson's action roles later in his career. Vanselow not only plans out the exciting fight scenes and stunts but also makes sure that Neeson can safely do as much of the action as he can, even at his age.
“You can't fool audiences. I don't want Mark to be fighting my fight scenes for me,” Neeson added.
The actor, who has been nominated for an Oscar, wrapped up by saying, “Maybe by the end of next year. I think that's all.”
However, it looks like he's getting ready for a big change in his career, this time aiming to be a comedy star.
He just wrapped up filming for The Naked Gun, which is a new version of the funny crime movie from 1988 that starred the late Leslie Nielson.
In the film, that's due to hit theaters in 2025, Neeson stars as the cop Frank Drebin – previously played by Nielson – alongside Baywatch beauty Pamela Anderson.
I'm totally head over heels for her. I can't say enough nice things about her. She's really funny, Neeson shares, but he's not too confident about his own sense of humor. “I really don't know if I can pull it off,” he admits.
Anderson, on the other hand, tells People that her co-star is just being modest. “It was tough to stay serious during our scenes together.”
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