Liam Neeson has shared devastating news that has left his fans emotional.
Neeson, the Irish actor known for his powerful presence and versatility, has captivated audiences for decades with roles spanning drama, action, and historical epics.
Born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in 1952, Neeson’s early love for boxing and teaching gradually gave way to acting, leading him to join Belfast’s Lyric Players’ Theatre.
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He made his film debut in Excalibur (1981), but it was his intense portrayal of Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993) that earned him worldwide acclaim and an Oscar nomination.
Neeson’s career took an unexpected turn in the 2000s when he embraced the action genre, starring in Taken (2008).
His role as Bryan Mills, a relentless father with ‘a particular set of skills,’ launched a series of successful action films and established him as an action icon in his fifties – a rare feat in Hollywood.
But now, Neeson has shared some sad news at age 72 that is devastating fans.
“Sadly time catches up with us. He has made so many exciting movies, always fun to watch,” one fan pens.
“What an incredible actor. Wishing him happiness!” another agrees.
A third pens: “As much as I enjoy his work, he needs this. Well done Liam Neeson!”
“I’m heartbroken!” adds a fourth.
Neeson, the celebrated actor best known for his intense roles in action movies has announced he is preparing to retire from the genre.
Neeson, 72, shared in an interview with People that he feels the time is right to step away from such physically demanding roles.
“I’m 72—it has to stop at some stage,” he remarked, recognizing that the physical toll of action movies has begun to weigh on him.
He emphasized that audiences can tell when a performer’s physical abilities are in decline, saying, ‘You can’t fool audiences,’ and expressing a desire not to rely on his longtime stunt double, Mark Vanselow, to handle his fight scenes.
Despite Neeson’s decision to exit the genre, he remains active with several projects underway.
He suggested that 2025 might mark the official end of his action career, saying: “Maybe the end of next year. I think that’s it.”
In his upcoming film, Absolution, Neeson portrays an aging gangster seeking redemption by reconnecting with his estranged children.
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This role, like many before, will likely showcase his legendary intensity, as his character faces the relentless criminal underworld.
Neeson has enjoyed remarkable longevity in the film industry, having risen to action stardom with Taken in 2008 and continuing to captivate audiences with similar roles ever since.
His recent appearance in Netflix’s In the Land of Saints and Sinners has garnered significant praise, with fans calling it the “Irish Avengers” for its high-stakes thrills.
Alongside this, he has more films in post-production, including Thug, Cold Storage, and The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky.
In 2025, he’s also set to step into the comedic role of Frank Drebin Jr. in The Naked Gun reboot.
Beyond his work in action films, Neeson reflected on personal losses, specifically the tragic death of his wife, Natasha Richardson, in 2009 following a skiing accident.
He expressed gratitude for the support of his family, particularly his sister-in-law and mother-in-law, who helped him raise his sons, Micheál and Daniel, after Richardson’s passing.
“Everybody just pulled together,” he said, noting the invaluable support he received from Vanessa and Joely Richardson during that difficult time.
Neeson’s transition away from action movies marks the end of an era for fans, but it also presents the possibility of new roles.
As one of Hollywood’s most iconic action stars, he leaves a powerful legacy, though his fans may still dream of seeing him in less strenuous roles in the future.
So perhaps we can look forward to more Neeson turns like Love Actually, instead!
Netflix Delivers Tough News to Liam Neeson Fans on December 31
Non-Stop also stars Julianne Moore and Scoot McNairy, and the film was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Collet-Serra also teamed up with Neeson in 2011 for Unknown, the action thriller that also stars Diane Kruger and Mad Men veteran January Jones. Cold Pursuit is a more recent Liam Neeson entry, released in 2019. The film also stars Laura Dern and was written by Frank Baldwin and directed by Hans Petter Moland. Moland worked with Neeson earlier this year for Absolution, the gangster crime thriller that also stars Ron Pearlman and is available to rent or purchase on Prime Video. Moland is also known for his work on A Somewhat Gentle Man, the 2010 dark comedy/drama starring Emmy nominee Stellan Skarsgård. He also reunited with Skarsgård in 2014 on In Order of Disappearance, an action thriller streaming on Roku.
As the year draws to a close, Netflix is booting major movies from several big actors off the platform at the end of the month. Fans of Jason Statham are being dealt a major blow, as the only two movies he has on Netflix, The Mechanic and Redemption, will both depart the platform on December 31. Denzel Washington also has three movies leaving Netflix, the first being Safe House, his action thriller with Ryan Reynolds. 2 Guns and American Gangster are also leaving Netflix on December 31, the former being a comic book adaptation team-up with Mark Wahlberg and the latter a crime thriller with Russell Crowe.
Stay tuned to Collider for future streaming updates and watch Cold Pursuit and Non-Stop before they leave Netflix on December 31.
Liam Neeson’s wife Natasha Richardson had one very specific condition before they got married
Liam Neeson admitted that Natasha Richardson nearly didn’t become his wife when she made a very specific stipulation on what would stop them getting hitched
Irish movie mega star Liam Neeson and his late wife Natasha Richardson only got married after she set a very specific condition. The star had a very specific demand from her would-be husband when they were still just boyfriend and girlfriend if he wanted a future with her.
Liam opened up about the ultimatum he was issued by Natasha during an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden when he quizzed him on if he had ever been offered a particular sought after movie role.
He explained how Natasha didn’t want him to play James Bond and that it would be a deal-breaker for their marriage.
He said: “She says, ‘Darling, if you’re offered James Bond and you’re going to play it, you’re not going to marry me,'” Liam also explained how he would tease Natasha by humming the theme tune to the franchise and doing the finger gun pose anytime they had an argument.
Liam was widowed in 2009 when Natasha was just 45-years-old after she was fatally injured when skiing. Liam recently admitted that he isn’t dating and has no intention of it.
Asked if he was seeing anyone by People magazine he said: “No, in a word. I’m past all that.” While Liam did briefly date on occasion after Natasha died it seems he is now content to live out his days alone having given up on looking for love.
Liam met Natasha in 1993 while both were acting on Broadway, and they quickly fell in love, marrying the following year and later having two sons, Micheal and Daniel.
A resurfaced interview with Liam five years on from her passing away detailed how he made a very difficult decision regarding her medical care following the accident thanks to their “pact.” He explained in the chat: “Her death was never real. It still kind of isn’t.
“There’s periods now when I hear the door opening, especially the first couple of years… anytime I hear that door opening, I still think I’m going to hear her.”
Liam then provided further insight as he explained what happened when he was told Natasha was “braindead.” He told Loaded Magazine in 2014: “I went in to her and I just told her I loved her. I said, ‘Sweetie, you’re not coming back from this’.
“She and I had made a pact. If any of us got into a vegetative state we’d pull the plug. So when I saw her and saw all these tubes and stuff that was my immediate thought, ‘OK, these tubes have to go. She’s gone’.”
