Throughout his nearly 50-year-long career, Liam Neeson has donned various roles. He has been a Jedi Master, a seemingly kind-hearted yet Nazi-affiliated character, a charming widower, and a vengeful father in the Taken series, a role that propelled him into the ranks of iconic action stars.
Recently, Neeson, now 72 and doubting his own ability to land a convincing punch, has disclosed that he’s contemplating retirement as “it has to come to an end at some point.”
Keep reading to get more details about this news that will surely break the hearts of Neeson’s fans!
Liam Neeson is a highly praised Irish actor renowned for his diverse roles spanning different genres, from dramatic portrayals to action-packed movies. His big break came in the early 1990s when he played Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List, which brought him worldwide acclaim and numerous award nominations.
Over the subsequent decade, the Oscar-nominated actor appeared in several films, ranging from charming romantic leads to a starring role as a Jedi Master in Star Wars, the world’s most colossal franchise.
Then, relying on his “distinct set of skills,” Neeson made a bold and unexpected career shift into an action star with Taken (2008), a move that reaped remarkable rewards.
The Love Actually star’s foray into the high-octane thriller domain took many by surprise. At 56, Neeson discovered a new persona as a leading man in action-packed films, demonstrating his versatility and lasting charm across different genres and generations.
Taken was a huge hit, and the star’s performance as Bryan Mills, a retired CIA agent determined to save his kidnapped daughter, struck a chord with audiences.
“It just seemed to have tapped into something deep within the psyche of moviegoers,” the father of two told People in an October 2024 interview.
His rough, no-nonsense depiction of a determined father made him an unlikely yet highly effective action hero. The film’s iconic phone scene, where Mills issues his memorable threat, became a hallmark moment in modern action cinema.
The film’s success not only cemented Neeson’s position as a late-career action star but also led to two successful sequels and other similar action film roles.
“When he’s fully immersed in the character, you can sense the pain and the anguish,” says Hans Petter Moland, who directed Neeson in Cold Pursuit (2019) and the upcoming film Thug. “He truly becomes that character.”
Despite his achievements in action films and the unwavering confidence directors have in Neeson’s punching power, the Absolution star recently declared his intention to retire from this genre due to his age.
“I’m 72. It has to stop sometime,” says Neeson, who remains dedicated to performing many of his own stunts and fight scenes. This is partly because of his long-standing collaboration with stunt coordinator and double Mark Vanselow. Their partnership, which began with Taken, has been a vital ingredient in Neeson’s late-career action roles. Vanselow not only devises the intense fight choreography and physical stunts but also makes sure that Neeson, despite his age, can execute as much of the action as possible while ensuring safety.
“You can’t deceive the audience. I don’t want Mark to do my fight scenes for me,” Neeson added.
The Oscar-nominated actor then concluded: “Maybe by the end of next year. I think that’ll be it.”
However, the star does seem to be gearing up for another career makeover, this time as a comedy star.
He recently wrapped up filming The Naked Gun, a reboot of the 1988 crime spoof comedy that starred the late Leslie Nielson.
In the film, set to premiere in theaters in 2025, Neeson portrays the cop Frank Drebin – a role previously played by Nielson – alongside Baywatch beauty Pamela Anderson.
“I’m head over heels for her. I can’t praise her enough. She’s hilarious,” Neeson said, expressing his doubts about his own comedic talent. “Whether I can pull it off or not, I really don’t know.”
Anderson, on the other hand, told People that her co-star is “being modest.” “It was tough to keep a straight face during our scenes together.”
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