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 theย Takenย 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 heโs considering retirement as โit has to stop at some stage.โLiam 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 Schindlerโs List, earning him global recognition and multiple award nominationsโ.
Over the next decade, the Oscar-nominated actor appeared in several films from charming romantic leads to a starring role as a Jedi Master inย Star Wars, the biggest franchise in the world.
Next, leaning on his โvery particular set of skills,โ Neeson transformed into an action star withย Takenย (2008), a bold and unexpected career pivot that paid off spectacularly.
Theย Love Actuallyย starโs 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 generatio
Takenย was a massive success, and the starโs performance of Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative determined to rescue his kidnapped daughter, resonated with audiences.
โIt just seemed to have touched something in the psychic nerve of moviegoing audiences,โ the father of two tellsย Peopleย in an October 2024 interview.
His gruff, no-nonsense portrayal of a relentless father made him an unlikely but hugely effective action hero. The filmโs iconic phone scene, where Mills delivers his memorable threat, became a defining moment in modern action cinema.
The filmโs success not only solidified Neesonโs place as a late-career action star but also spawned two successful sequels and other similar roles in action films.
โWhen heโs immersed in the character he is, you see the hurt, you see the pain,โ says Hans Petter Moland, who directed Neeson inย Cold Pursuitย (2019) and also in the upcoming filmย Thug. โHe becomes that man.โ
Despite his success in action films and the unwavering faith directors have in Neesonโs ability to throw a punch, theย Absolutionย star recently announced that he plans to retire from the genre due to his age.
โIโm 72, it has to stop at some stage,โ says Neeson, whoโs 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 withย Taken, has become a crucial element of Neesonโs 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.
โYou canโt fool audiences. I donโt want Mark to be fighting my fight scenes for me,โ Neeson added.
The Oscar-nominated actor then concluded: โMaybe the end of next year. I think thatโs it.โ
But the star does seem to be preparing for another career transformation, this time as a comedy star.
He recently finished filmingย The Naked Gun, a reboot of the 1988 crime spoof comedy starring the late Leslie Nielson.
In the film, thatโs due to hit theaters in 2025, Neeson stars as the cop Frank Drebin โ previously played by Nielson โ alongsideย Baywatchย beauty Pamela Anderson.
โIโm madly in love with her. I canโt compliment her enough. Sheโs funny,โ Neeson says, adding heโs not so sure of his own comedy chops. โWhether I can carry it or not, I honestly donโt know.โ
Anderson however tells People that her co-star is โbeing humble.โ โIt was hard to keep a straight face in scenes together.โ
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