Over his almost 50-year career, Liam Neeson has been a Jedi Master, a humanitarian member of the Nazi party, a charming widower and a vengeful father in the Taken franchise, a role that transformed the actor into an iconic action star.
Recently, Neeson, who at 72 is unsure he can convincingly throw a punch, revealed that he’s considering retirement as “it has to stop at some stage.”
Liam Neeson is an acclaimed Irish actor known for his versatile roles across different genres, from dramatic performances to action-packed films. His breakthrough came in the early 1990s with his portrayal of Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List, earning him global recognition and multiple award nominations.
Over the next decade, the Oscar-nominated actor appeared in several films from charming romantic leads to a starring role as a Jedi Master in Star Wars, the biggest franchise in the world.
Next, leaning on his “very particular set of skills,” Neeson transformed into an action star with Taken (2008), a bold and unexpected career pivot that paid off spectacularly.
The Love Actually star’s shift into the realm of high-octane thrillers came as a surprise to many. At the age of 56, Neeson found a new identity as a leading man in action-packed films, proving his versatility and enduring appeal across genres and generations.
Taken was a massive success, and the star’s performance of Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative determined to rescue his kidnapped daughter, resonated with audiences.
“It just seemed to have touched something in the psychic nerve of moviegoing audiences,” the father of two tells People in an October 2024 interview.
His gruff, no-nonsense portrayal of a relentless father made him an unlikely but hugely effective action hero. The film’s iconic phone scene, where Mills delivers his memorable threat, became a defining moment in modern action cinema.
The film’s success not only solidified Neeson’s place as a late-career action star but also spawned two successful sequels and other similar roles in action films.
“When he’s immersed in the character he is, you see the hurt, you see the pain,” says Hans Petter Moland, who directed Neeson in Cold Pursuit (2019) and also in the upcoming film Thug. “He becomes that man.”
Despite his success in action films and the unwavering faith directors have in Neeson’s ability to throw a punch, the Absolution star recently announced that he plans to retire from the genre due to his age.
“I’m 72, it has to stop at some stage,” says Neeson, who’s remains committed to performing many of his own stunts and fight scenes. This in part is due to his collaboration with longtime stunt coordinator and double Mark Vanselow. Their partnership, which began with Taken, has become a crucial element of Neeson’s late-career action roles. Vanselow not only choreographs the intense fight sequences and physical stunts but also ensures that Neeson, despite his age, can perform as much of the action as possible while maintaining safety.
“You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want Mark to be fighting my fight scenes for me,” Neeson added.
The Oscar-nominated actor then concluded: “Maybe the end of next year. I think that’s it.” But the star does seem to be preparing for another career transformation, this time as a comedy star.
He recently finished filming The Naked Gun, a reboot of the 1988 crime spoof comedy starring 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 madly in love with her. I can’t compliment her enough. She’s funny,” Neeson says, adding he’s not so sure of his own comedy chops. “Whether I can carry it or not, I honestly don’t know.”
Anderson however tells People that her co-star is “being humble.” “It was hard to keep a straight face in scenes together.”
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