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[[File:Neesonandfiennes.jpg|thumb|left|Neeson talking to [[Ralph Fiennes]] at the Madison Square Garden [[U2]] concert, 1 October 2005]]
[[File:Neesonandfiennes.jpg|thumb|left|Neeson talking to [[Ralph Fiennes]] at the Madison Square Garden [[U2]] concert, 1 October 2005]]
In 2010, Neeson played [[Zeus]] in the [[Clash of the Titans (2010 film)|remake]] of the 1981 film, ''[[Clash of the Titans (1981 film)|Clash of the Titans]]''. The film went on becoming a huge box office hit, grossing $475 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=clashofthetitans10.htm|title=Clash of the Titans (2010) (2010)|publisher=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=21 June 2010}}</ref> Neeson also starred in [[Atom Egoyan]]'s erotic thriller ''[[Chloe (film)|Chloe]]'', theatrically released by [[Sony Pictures Classics]] on 26 March 2010. ''Chloe'' had enjoyed commercial success and became the Canadian director's biggest money maker ever.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/901059--the-digital-revolution-film|location=Toronto|work=The Star|first=Geoff|last=Pevere|title=The Digital Revolution: Part 1|date=7 December 2010}}</ref> Later the same year, he played [[John "Hannibal" Smith]] in the [[The A-Team (film)|spin-off movie]] from the television series ''[[The A-Team]]''.<ref name="Chris Hewitt">{{cite web|url=http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=25013|title=Neeson And Cooper Are The A-Team|author=Chris Hewitt|work=Empire|date=9 June 2009|accessdate=9 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="Cooper in A-Team film?">{{cite web|title=Cooper in A-Team film?|url=http://www.teletext.co.uk/bigscreen/news/874ad1990654eebb77fdb6d8d4e2281a/Cooper+in+A-Team+film.aspx|accessdate=11 June 2009}}</ref>
In 2010, Neeson played [[Zeus]] in the [[Clash of the Titans (2010 film)|remake]] of the 1981 film, ''[[Clash of the Titans (1981 film)|Clash of the Titans]]''. The film went on becoming a huge box office hit, grossing $475 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=clashofthetitans10.htm|title=Clash of the Titans (2010) (2010)|publisher=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=21 June 2010}}</ref> Neeson also starred in [[Atom Egoyan]]'s erotic thriller ''[[Chloe (film)|Chloe]]'', theatrically released by [[Sony Pictures Classics]] on 26 March 2010. ''Chloe'' had enjoyed commercial success and became the Canadian director's biggest money maker ever.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/901059--the-digital-revolution-film|location=Toronto|work=The Star|first=Geoff|last=Pevere|title=The Digital Revolution: Part 1|date=7 December 2010}}</ref> Later the same year, he played [[John "Hannibal" Smith]] in the [[The A-Team (film)|spin-off movie]] from the television series ''[[The A-Team]]''.<ref name="Chris Hewitt">{{cite web|url=http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=25013|title=Neeson And Cooper Are The A-Team|author=Chris Hewitt|work=Empire|date=9 June 2009|accessdate=9 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="Cooper in A-Team film?">{{cite web|title=Cooper in A-Team film?|url=http://www.teletext.co.uk/bigscreen/news/874ad1990654eebb77fdb6d8d4e2281a/Cooper+in+A-Team+film.aspx|accessdate=11 June 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2013}}</ref>


In 2010, Neeson voiced the character [[Aslan]] again in the sequel ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader]]''. In late 2010, Neeson stated, "Aslan symbolises a Christlike figure, but he also symbolises for me Mohammed, Buddha and all the great spiritual leaders and prophets over the centuries"; this disappointed many fans of the series, who felt that he was "destroying the author's legacy to be politically correct".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1335586/Liam-Neeson-upsets-Narnia-fans-claiming-Aslan-Mohammed-Christ.html?ITO=1490|title=Narnia fans' fury after Liam Neeson claims Aslan – the symbol of Christ – could also be Mohammed|location=London|work=Daily Mail|first1=Tamara|last1=Cohen|first2=Simon|last2=Caldwell|date=4 December 2010}}</ref><ref>The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, vol iii, p 160: "I found the name [Aslan]...it is the Turkish for Lion. ... And of course I meant the [[Lion of Judah]]."</ref> In 2011, Neeson starred in ''[[Unknown (2011 film)|Unknown]]'', a German-British-American co-production of a French book, it was filmed in Berlin in early 2010. It has been compared to ''Taken'', which was set in Paris. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film enjoyed box office success in the United States. It was largely funded by Dark Castle entertainment with smaller amounts coming from the Berlin film agency.
In 2010, Neeson voiced the character [[Aslan]] again in the sequel ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader]]''. In late 2010, Neeson stated, "Aslan symbolises a Christlike figure, but he also symbolises for me Mohammed, Buddha and all the great spiritual leaders and prophets over the centuries"; this disappointed many fans of the series, who felt that he was "destroying the author's legacy to be politically correct".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1335586/Liam-Neeson-upsets-Narnia-fans-claiming-Aslan-Mohammed-Christ.html?ITO=1490|title=Narnia fans' fury after Liam Neeson claims Aslan – the symbol of Christ – could also be Mohammed|location=London|work=Daily Mail|first1=Tamara|last1=Cohen|first2=Simon|last2=Caldwell|date=4 December 2010}}</ref><ref>The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, vol iii, p 160: "I found the name [Aslan]...it is the Turkish for Lion. ... And of course I meant the [[Lion of Judah]]."</ref> In 2011, Neeson starred in ''[[Unknown (2011 film)|Unknown]]'', a German-British-American co-production of a French book, it was filmed in Berlin in early 2010. It has been compared to ''Taken'', which was set in Paris. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film enjoyed box office success in the United States. It was largely funded by Dark Castle entertainment with smaller amounts coming from the Berlin film agency.
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Neeson was offered the "[[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Town]] of Ballymena" by [[Ballymena (borough)|Ballymena Borough Council]], but because of objections made by members of the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] regarding his comments that he had felt like a "second-class citizen" growing up as a Catholic in the town, he declined the award, citing tensions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Neeson refuses hometown honour|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/685970.stm|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=20 January 2012|date=21 March 2000}}</ref> Following the controversy, Neeson wrote a letter to the council, stating; "I will always remain very proud of my upbringing in, and association with, the town and my country of birth, which I will continue to promote at every opportunity. Indeed I regard the enduring support over the years from all sections of the community in Ballymena as being more than sufficient recognition for any success which I may have achieved as an actor."<ref name="Neeson award">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21230305 Liam Neeson arrives in Ballymena to receive award"]. BBC. Retrieved 28 January 2013</ref> On 28 January 2013, Neeson received the Freedom of the Borough from Ballymena Borough Council at a ceremony in the town.<ref name="Neeson award"/>
Neeson was offered the "[[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Town]] of Ballymena" by [[Ballymena (borough)|Ballymena Borough Council]], but because of objections made by members of the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] regarding his comments that he had felt like a "second-class citizen" growing up as a Catholic in the town, he declined the award, citing tensions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Neeson refuses hometown honour|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/685970.stm|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=20 January 2012|date=21 March 2000}}</ref> Following the controversy, Neeson wrote a letter to the council, stating; "I will always remain very proud of my upbringing in, and association with, the town and my country of birth, which I will continue to promote at every opportunity. Indeed I regard the enduring support over the years from all sections of the community in Ballymena as being more than sufficient recognition for any success which I may have achieved as an actor."<ref name="Neeson award">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21230305 Liam Neeson arrives in Ballymena to receive award"]. BBC. Retrieved 28 January 2013</ref> On 28 January 2013, Neeson received the Freedom of the Borough from Ballymena Borough Council at a ceremony in the town.<ref name="Neeson award"/>


He was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] in her [[1999 New Year Honours]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Jamie|title=Top billing at last for veteran entertainers; Showbusiness Awards for Elizabeth Taylor and Shirley Bassey|accessdate=29 May 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=31 December 1999|location=London|page=4}}</ref> [[The American Ireland Fund]] honoured Neeson with their Performing Arts Award for the great distinction he has brought to Ireland at their 2008 Dinner Gala in New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irlfunds.org/aif/new_york/events_43.asp|title=New York Dinner Gala – 5.8.2008 |publisher=The Ireland Funds|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> In 2009, at a ceremony in New York, Neeson was awarded an honorary doctorate by [[Queen's University, Belfast]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Liam Neeson graduates 40 years on|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8037845.stm|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=1 November 2012|date=7 May 2009}}</ref>
He was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] in her [[1999 New Year Honours]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Jamie|title=Top billing at last for veteran entertainers; Showbusiness Awards for Elizabeth Taylor and Shirley Bassey|accessdate=29 May 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=31 December 1999|location=London|page=4}}</ref> [[The American Ireland Fund]] honoured Neeson with their Performing Arts Award for the great distinction he has brought to Ireland at their 2008 Dinner Gala in New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irlfunds.org/aif/new_york/events_43.asp|title=New York Dinner Gala – 5.8.2008 |publisher=The Ireland Funds|accessdate=7 May 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2013}}</ref> In 2009, at a ceremony in New York, Neeson was awarded an honorary doctorate by [[Queen's University, Belfast]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Liam Neeson graduates 40 years on|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8037845.stm|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=1 November 2012|date=7 May 2009}}</ref>


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
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| 2010
| 2010
| ''Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity''
| ''Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity''
| Narrator<ref>"[http://www.nasm.si.edu/visit/theaters/shows.cfm Smithsonian Institution]". Retrieved 17 October 2010</ref>
| Narrator<ref>"[http://www.nasm.si.edu/visit/theaters/shows.cfm Smithsonian Institution]{{dead link|date=June 2013}}". Retrieved 17 October 2010</ref>
|
|
|-
|-
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* {{amg name|52070}}
* {{amg name|52070}}
* {{Screenonline name|id=490910}}
* {{Screenonline name|id=490910}}
* [http://www.irlfunds.org/aif/new_york/events_43.asp The American Ireland Fund Performing Arts Award 2008]
* [http://www.irlfunds.org/aif/new_york/events_43.asp The American Ireland Fund Performing Arts Award 2008]{{dead link|date=June 2013}}
* [http://www.thecinemasource.com/blog/interviews/liam-neeson-interview-for-the-a-team/ Liam Neeson Interview for "The A-Team"]
* [http://www.thecinemasource.com/blog/interviews/liam-neeson-interview-for-the-a-team/ Liam Neeson Interview for "The A-Team"]
* [http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2010/07/underrated-action-stars.php Liam Neeson is Today's Greatest Action Hero]
* [http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2010/07/underrated-action-stars.php Liam Neeson is Today's Greatest Action Hero]

Revision as of 15:27, 30 June 2013

Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2012
Born
Liam John Neeson

(1952-06-07) 7 June 1952 (age 72)[1]
Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
OccupationActor
Years active1973–present
Spouse(s)Natasha Richardson
(1994–2009, her death)
Children2
RelativesVanessa Redgrave
(mother-in-law)
Tony Richardson (father-in-law)
Joely Richardson
(sister-in-law)

Liam John Neeson, OBE (born 7 June 1952)[2] is an Irish actor best known for his roles in Schindler's List, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Michael Collins, Taken, Kinsey, Batman Begins and Darkman. He has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards.

Early life

Neeson was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the son of Katherine "Kitty" Neeson (née Brown), a cook, and Bernard "Barney" Neeson, a caretaker at the Ballymena Boys All Saints Primary School.[3] He was raised Roman Catholic[4][5][6] and was named Liam after the local priest.[7] The third of four siblings, he has three sisters: Elizabeth, Bernadette, and Rosaline.[8] At age nine, Neeson began boxing lessons at the All Saints Youth Club, and later became Ulster's amateur senior boxing champion.[9] Neeson first stepped on stage at age 11. His English teacher offered him the lead role in a school play, and he accepted because the girl he was attracted to was starring in it.[10] From then on, he kept acting in school productions for the following years.[11]

His interest in acting and decision to become an actor was also influenced by minister Ian Paisley, whose church Neeson would sneak into. Neeson has said of Paisley: "He had a magnificent presence and it was incredible to watch him just Bible-thumping away... it was acting, but it was also great acting and stirring too."[12] In 1971, Neeson was enrolled as a physics and computer science student at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, before leaving to work for the Guinness Brewery.[13] Also at Queens, he discovered a talent for football and was spotted by Seán Thomas at Bohemian F.C. There was a club trial in Dublin and Neeson played one game as a substitute against Shamrock Rovers, but he was not offered a contract.[14]

Career

1978–1993

After leaving university, Neeson returned to Ballymena where he worked in a variety of casual jobs, from a fork-lift operator at Guinness to a truck driver. He also attended teacher training college for two years in Newcastle, County Down, before again returning to his hometown. In 1976, Neeson joined the Lyric Players' Theatre in Belfast where he performed for two years. He got his first film experience in 1977, playing Jesus Christ and Evangelist in the religious film Pilgrim's Progress. Neeson moved to Dublin in 1978 after he was offered a part in Ron Hutchinson's Says I, Says He, a drama about The Troubles, at the Project Arts Centre. He acted in several other Project productions and joined the Abbey Theatre (the National Theatre of Ireland).

In 1980, filmmaker John Boorman saw him on stage as Lennie Small in Of Mice and Men and offered him the part of Sir Gawain in the Arthurian film, Excalibur. After Excalibur, Neeson moved to London, where he continued working on stage, in small budget films and in television. He lived with the actress Helen Mirren at this time, whom he met working on Excalibur.[15] Between 1982 and 1987, Neeson starred in five films; most notably alongside Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins in 1984's The Bounty and Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons in 1986's The Mission. He also guest-starred in the third season of the television series Miami Vice in 1986.

In 1987, Neeson moved to Hollywood to star in high-profile roles.[15] That year, he starred alongside Cher and Dennis Quaid in Suspect in a role that brought him critical acclaim. In 1990, he followed this with a starring role in Darkman. Although the film was successful, Neeson's subsequent years would not bring him the same recognition. In 1993, he joined Ellis Island co-star and future wife Natasha Richardson in the Broadway play Anna Christie. They also worked together in Nell, released the following year. He recited the Van Morrison song "Coney Island" on the 1994 Van Morrison tribute album No Prima Donna: The Songs of Van Morrison. A single was also released with Neeson's version.

Schindler's List

Director Steven Spielberg offered Neeson the role of Oskar Schindler in the film about the Holocaust, Schindler's List,[16] after seeing him in Anna Christie on Broadway. Even with Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson and Warren Beatty all expressing interest in portraying Schindler,[17][18] (the latter auditioning),[17] Neeson was cast in December 1992 after formally auditioning for the role.[18] Neeson read the Keneally book and concluded that his character "enjoyed fookin' [sic] with the Nazis. In Keneally's book, it says he was regarded as a kind of a buffoon by them... if the Nazis were New Yorkers, he was from Arkansas. They don't quite take him seriously, and he used that to full effect."[19]

His critically acclaimed performance earned him a nomination for a Best Actor Oscar, and helped the film earn Best Picture. However, the best actor award went to Tom Hanks for his performance in Philadelphia. Neeson also garnered BAFTA and Golden Globes nominations for his work as Oskar Schindler. Soon after these accolades, he starred in other period pieces followed: Rob Roy (1995) and Michael Collins (1996), the latter earning him a win for Best Starring Role at the Venice Film Festival and another Golden Globe nomination. He went on to star as Jean Valjean in the 1998 adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables and in The Haunting (1999) as Dr. David Marrow.

Star Wars

Liam Neeson as Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn.

In 1999, Neeson starred as Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn, in director George Lucas' Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. As the first Star Wars film to be released in over sixteen years, it was surrounded by a large amount of media anticipation. Neeson's connection to the Star Wars films started in the Crown Bar, Belfast. Neeson stated to Ricki Lake, "I probably wouldn't have taken the role if it wasn't for the advice of Peter King in the Crown during a Lyric reunion."[clarification needed] The Phantom Menace was an enormous box-office success and remains the most financially successful Star Wars film unadjusted for inflation.[20]

Qui-Gon's voice, provided by Neeson, would later be heard during a brief scene in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002). Qui-Gon was supposed to make an appearance in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) as a Force Ghost, and Neeson had hinted at involvement.[21] However, he was ultimately unable to appear due to a motorcycle injury, and his character is only mentioned in the film.[22] In 2011, he reprised the role of Qui-Gon once again, by lending his voice for the character in two episodes of the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

2001–present

Neeson narrated the 2001 documentaries Journey into Amazing Caves, a short about two women scientists who travel around the world to search for material for potential cures,[23] and The Endurance: Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure. The latter won awards at a number of film festivals including Best Documentary from both the Chicago Film Critics Association and the National Board of Review.[24] After being nominated for a Tony Award for his role opposite Laura Linney in The Crucible, Neeson teamed up with Harrison Ford in Kathryn Bigelow's 2002 submarine thriller K-19: The Widowmaker as Captain Mikhail Polenin. He appeared in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York with Leonardo DiCaprio, Brendan Gleeson, Cameron Diaz and Daniel Day-Lewis, and played a recently widowed writer in Richard Curtis' ensemble comedy Love Actually (2003).[25] His role as Alfred Kinsey in Kinsey again put the actor up for nomination for a Golden Globe Award but he lost to Leonardo DiCaprio for The Aviator.

Neeson attending the TIFF premiere of The Other Man, on 7 September 2008.

In 2004, Neeson hosted an episode of the NBC sketch show Saturday Night Live. He starred as a redneck trucker, Marlon Weaver, in an "Appalachian Emergency Room" sketch and a hippie in a one-off sketch about two stoners (the other played by Amy Poehler) who attempt to borrow a police dog to find their lost stash of marijuana. Despite vowing not to play any Irish stereotypes, Neeson did play a stereotypically Irish man named Lorcan McArdle in the home makeover show parody "You Call This A House, Do Ya?"[26] In 2005, Neeson played Godfrey of Ibelin in Ridley Scott's epic adventure Kingdom of Heaven, Ra's al Ghul, one of the main villains in Batman Begins, and as Father Bernard in Neil Jordan's adaptation of Patrick McCabe's novel, Breakfast on Pluto.

In 2005, he voiced the role of a kindly priest on The Simpsons, who (briefly) converts Bart and Homer to Catholicism.[27] That same year, he gave his voice to the lion Aslan in the blockbuster fantasy film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[28] In 2007, he starred in the American Civil War epic Seraphim Falls.

Neeson's voice is featured in the video game Fallout 3 as the main character's father, James.[29] The executive producer of the game, Todd Howard, said "This role was written with Liam in mind, and provides the dramatic tone for the entire game".[30] Fallout 3, the third game in the Fallout series, was extremely well received by critics and shipped 4.7 million copies by the end of 2008, the year it was released.[31]

In the director's commentary of the 2007 Transformers DVD, Michael Bay said that he had told the animators to seek inspiration from Neeson in creating Optimus Prime's body language. Neeson appeared as Alistair Little in the BBC Northern Ireland/Big Fish Films television drama Five Minutes of Heaven, which tells the true story of a young Protestant man convicted of murdering a Catholic boy during The Troubles.[32]

He starred in the action film Taken in 2008, a French produced film also starring Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace. Based on a script by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and directed by Pierre Morel the film stars Neeson playing a retired Central Intelligence Agency operative from their elite Special Activities Division who sets about tracking down his teenage daughter after she is kidnapped for sexual slavery while travelling in Europe. Taken was a huge worldwide box office hit, grossing $223.9 million worldwide, making almost $200 million more than its production budget. Taken brought him back into the center of the public eye and resulted in his being cast in many more big-budget Hollywood movies. That year he also narrated the documentary Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity and again lent his voice to Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008).[33]

Neeson has wrapped filming the psychological thriller After.Life with Christina Ricci and Justin Long.[34] He also provided a voice for Hayao Miyazaki's anime film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, which received an August 2009 release.[35]

Neeson talking to Ralph Fiennes at the Madison Square Garden U2 concert, 1 October 2005

In 2010, Neeson played Zeus in the remake of the 1981 film, Clash of the Titans. The film went on becoming a huge box office hit, grossing $475 million worldwide.[36] Neeson also starred in Atom Egoyan's erotic thriller Chloe, theatrically released by Sony Pictures Classics on 26 March 2010. Chloe had enjoyed commercial success and became the Canadian director's biggest money maker ever.[37] Later the same year, he played John "Hannibal" Smith in the spin-off movie from the television series The A-Team.[38][39]

In 2010, Neeson voiced the character Aslan again in the sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. In late 2010, Neeson stated, "Aslan symbolises a Christlike figure, but he also symbolises for me Mohammed, Buddha and all the great spiritual leaders and prophets over the centuries"; this disappointed many fans of the series, who felt that he was "destroying the author's legacy to be politically correct".[40][41] In 2011, Neeson starred in Unknown, a German-British-American co-production of a French book, it was filmed in Berlin in early 2010. It has been compared to Taken, which was set in Paris. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film enjoyed box office success in the United States. It was largely funded by Dark Castle entertainment with smaller amounts coming from the Berlin film agency.

He was set to reunite with director Steven Spielberg and star as Abraham Lincoln in the film based on the book Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.[42][42] In preparation for the role, Neeson visited Washington, D.C., Springfield, Illinois where Lincoln lived prior to being elected, and read Lincoln's personal letters.[43] Neeson eventually declined the role, claiming he was "past his sell date" and had grown too old to play Lincoln.[44] He was later replaced in the role by Daniel Day-Lewis. Director Lee Daniels has confirmed that Neeson will play former US president Lyndon B. Johnson in Daniels' developing film Selma, which is about Martin Luther King, Jr., Johnson, and the civil rights marches.[45]

Neeson also starred as Ben Ryan in the drama Before and After alongside Meryl Streep. This film was about how a family dealt with the aftereffects of a murder their son was accused of committing. It was announced in July 2010 that Neeson would guest-star on the new Showtime series The Big C.[46] In 2011, he played himself, in BBC2's series Life's Too Short, starring Warwick Davis. Neeson reprised his role as Ra's Al Ghul for the film: The Dark Knight Rises. He narrated the first trailer for the film.

In late 2011, Liam Neeson was cast to play the lead character of the journalist, in a new album recording, and arena production, of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds. He replaced Richard Burton, who, through CGI animation, had posthumously appeared in the arena production. Neeson would also not physically appear on the stage, instead he plays the role through the use of 3D holography.

In 2012, Neeson starred as John Ottway in Joe Carnahan's The Grey. The film received mostly positive reviews and Neeson's performance as Ottway received critical acclaim. He also starred in Taken 2, a successful sequel to his 2008 blockbuster.[47]

Personal life

Neeson lived with actress Helen Mirren during the early 1980s. They had met while working on Excalibur (1981). Interviewed by James Lipton for Inside the Actors Studio, Neeson said Mirren was instrumental in his getting an agent.

Neeson married actress Natasha Richardson on 3 July 1994. In August 2004, Neeson and his wife purchased an estate in Millbrook, New York.[48][49] On 18 March 2009, Richardson died when she suffered a severe head injury in a skiing accident at the Mont Tremblant Resort. She and Neeson had two sons together, Micheál and Daniel.

A heavy smoker earlier in his career, Neeson has since quit smoking. When he took the role of Hannibal for the 2010 film adaptation of The A-Team, Neeson had reservations about smoking cigars (which is a signature trait of the character) in the film due to being an ex-smoker, but agreed to keep that personality trait of Hannibal intact for the film.[50] In August 2009, Neeson stated on ABC's Good Morning America that he had been naturalised as a United States citizen.[51] Neeson is a fan of Liverpool FC.[52] In March 2011, he was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.[53]

In June 2012, it was reported that Neeson was converting to Islamic faith, and his publicist quickly denied the rumours. However, he has expressed an affection for the Islamic calls to prayer that he grew used to while filming Taken 2 in Istanbul: "By the third week, it was like I couldn't live without it. It really became hypnotic and very moving for me in a very special way. Very beautiful."[54] He has also expressed admiration for The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.[55]

Honours and awards

Neeson was offered the "Freedom of the Town of Ballymena" by Ballymena Borough Council, but because of objections made by members of the Democratic Unionist Party regarding his comments that he had felt like a "second-class citizen" growing up as a Catholic in the town, he declined the award, citing tensions.[56] Following the controversy, Neeson wrote a letter to the council, stating; "I will always remain very proud of my upbringing in, and association with, the town and my country of birth, which I will continue to promote at every opportunity. Indeed I regard the enduring support over the years from all sections of the community in Ballymena as being more than sufficient recognition for any success which I may have achieved as an actor."[57] On 28 January 2013, Neeson received the Freedom of the Borough from Ballymena Borough Council at a ceremony in the town.[57]

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in her 1999 New Year Honours.[58] The American Ireland Fund honoured Neeson with their Performing Arts Award for the great distinction he has brought to Ireland at their 2008 Dinner Gala in New York.[59] In 2009, at a ceremony in New York, Neeson was awarded an honorary doctorate by Queen's University, Belfast.[60]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Pilgrim's Progress Jesus Christ
Evangelist
1979 Christiana Greatheart
1981 Nailed Young Catholic
1981 Excalibur Gawain
1982 Merlin and the Sword Grak
1983 Krull Kegan
1984 The Bounty Charles Churchill
1984 Ellis Island Kevin Murray
1985 Lamb Michael Lamb
1985 The Innocent John Carns
1986 The Mission Fielding
1986 The Delta Force Delta Force member Uncredited
1986 Duet for One Totter
1987 Suspect Carl Anderson
1987 A Prayer for the Dying Liam Docherty
1988 Satisfaction Martin Falcon
1988 High Spirits Martin Brogan
1988 The Dead Pool Peter Swan
1988 The Good Mother Leo Cutter
1989 Next of Kin Briar Gates
1990 Darkman Peyton Westlake / Darkman Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor
1990 The Big Man Danny Scoular
1991 Under Suspicion Tony Aaron
1992 Husbands and Wives Michael Gates
1992 Leap of Faith Sheriff Will Braverman
1992 Shining Through Franz-Otto Dietrich
1993 Ethan Frome Ethan Frome
1993 Ruby Cairo Dr. Fergus Lamb
1993 Schindler's List Oskar Schindler Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actor
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated – Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
1994 Nell Dr. Jerome "Jerry" Lovell
1995 Rob Roy Rob Roy MacGregor
1996 Michael Collins Michael Collins Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actor
Volpi Cup
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
1996 Before and After Ben Ryan
1998 Les Misérables Jean Valjean
1998 Everest Narrator
1999 The Haunting Dr. David Marrow
1999 Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Qui-Gon Jinn Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
2000 Gun Shy Charlie Mayo
2000 The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition Narrator
2001 Journey into Amazing Caves Narrator
2002 K-19: The Widowmaker Mikhail Polenin
2002 Gangs of New York 'Priest' Vallon
2002 Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Qui-Gon Jinn Voice
2002 Evolution Narrator
2002 Martin Luther Narrator
2003 Love Actually Daniel Nominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
2003 Coral Reef Adventure Narrator
2003 Liberty's Kids John Paul Jones
2004 Kinsey Alfred Kinsey Irish Film Awards – Best Actor Film
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Male
Nominated – London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actor of the Year
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated – Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
2004 Saturday Night Live Host 1 episode
2005 The Simpsons Father Sean Voice
Episode: "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star"
2005 Kingdom of Heaven Godfrey of Ibelin
2005 Batman Begins Ducard/Ra's al Ghul Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
2005 Breakfast on Pluto Father Liam
2005 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Aslan Voice
2006 Home Himself
2007 Seraphim Falls Carver
2007 Birth of Christ Narrator
2008 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Aslan Voice
2008 The Other Man Peter
2008 Fallout 3 James Voice
2008 Taken Bryan Mills
2009 Five Minutes of Heaven Alistair Little Nominated – Irish Film & Television Award for Actor in a Lead Role (Television)[61]
2009 Ponyo Fujimoto Voice
2009 After.Life Eliot
2009 Chloe David
2010 Clash of the Titans Zeus
2010 Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity Narrator[62]
2010 The A-Team John "Hannibal" Smith
2010 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Aslan Voice
2010 The Next Three Days Damon Pennington
2010 The Wildest Dream Narrator
2011 Unknown Dr. Martin Harris
2011 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Qui-Gon Jinn Voice
Episodes: "Overlords" and "Ghosts of Mortis"
2011 Life's Too Short Himself Cameo
2012 The Grey John Ottway
2012 Wrath of the Titans Zeus Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor
2012 Battleship Admiral Shane
2012 The Dark Knight Rises Ra's al Ghul Cameo
2012 Taken 2 Bryan Mills
2013 Khumba Phango[63][64] Voice
2013 Non-Stop Bill Marks Post-production
2013 A Walk Among the Tombstones Matthew Scudder Post-production
2013 Third Person Michael Post-production
2013 Anchorman: The Legend Continues Cameo
Filming
2014 The Nut Job Racoon Voice
Post-production
2014 The Lego Movie Bad Cop Voice
Post-production
2014 A Million Ways to Die in the West Filming

Discography

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation The Journalist Voice

References

  1. ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1209/1210. 1/8 Jun 2012. p. 35. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Morales, Tatiana (15 December 2004). "Liam Neeson on Kinsey". CBS News. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Liam Neeson Biography". Retrieved 18 April 2007.
  4. ^ Blaney, Retta. "Acting Is a Form of Prayer". Beliefnet. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  5. ^ "Liam Neeson: Bloody Sunday made me learn my history". The Belfast Telegraph. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.: (Commentary;"Hollywood superstar Liam Neeson has told how he grew up in a religious Catholic background untouched by the Troubles.")
  6. ^ Flynn, Gaynor (23 August 2008). "Always a Wanted man". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  7. ^ Mansfield, Stephanie (1993-12). "Liam Neeson Puts the Kettle On". GQ. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. ^ "Liam Neeson". Retrieved 18 April 2007.
  9. ^ "Star who shone in the boxing ring". BBC News. 13 December 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
  10. ^ Frankel, Martha (1990-12). "'Man' of the Year". American Film. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  11. ^ Dewson, Lisa (1986-06). "A Man With a Mission". Photoplay (UK). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  12. ^ "Neeson Reveals Paisley Influence". BBC News. 5 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  13. ^ "Liam Neeson graduates 40 years on". BBC News. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  14. ^ Gaffers: 50 Years of Irish Football Managers by Trevor Keane
  15. ^ a b McHugh, Fionnuala (1988-09). "Neeson Easy: Tall, Dark and Phantom". Elle (UK). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  16. ^ de Vries, Hilary (3 July 1993). "Liam -Neeson". Newsday. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  17. ^ a b Susan Royal. "An Interview with Steven Spielberg". Inside Film Magazine Online. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  18. ^ a b Thompson, Anne (21 January 1994). "Making History". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
  19. ^ "Oskar Winner". Entertainment Weekly. 21 January 1994. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
  20. ^ "All Time Worldwide Box Office Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  21. ^ Keck, William (10 January 2005). "USATODAY – Movie-star night in Palm Springs". USA Today. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  22. ^ "Star Wars: Message Boards: Rick McCallum 6/3/05 – 4:00 p.m. PT". Forums.starwars.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  23. ^ "Plot Summary for Journey into Amazing Caves".
  24. ^ "Awards for The Endurance". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264578/awards" ignored (help)
  25. ^ Lee, Alana. "BBC-Films-Interviews". BBC. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
  26. ^ "SNL Transcripts: Liam Neeson: 13 November 2004: You Call This A House, Do Ya?". Snltranscripts.jt.org. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  27. ^ "Springfield Fever". Entertainment Weekly. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
  28. ^ "Liam Neeson Will Voice Aslan". NarniaWeb. 15 July 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2007.
  29. ^ Gaudiosi, John (8 May 2007). "'Fallout 3' recruits Neeson". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 10 May 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
  30. ^ Gibbon, David (9 May 2007). "Liam Neeson to lead 'Fallout 3'". DigitalSpy. Retrieved 9 May 2007.
  31. ^ var authorId = "" by Jimmy Thang. "Fallout 3 Expanding to More Markets – PC News at IGN". Pc.ign.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  32. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (8 May 2008). "Nesbitt and Neeson set for Ulster drama". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  33. ^ Martin, Paul (4 December 2006). "Exclusive Prince Caspian Updates with Douglas Gresham". NarniaFans. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
  34. ^ McNary, Dave (16 October 2008). "Ricci, Neeson believe in After.Life". Variety.
  35. ^ Child, Ben (27 November 2008). "English-language cast announced for Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  36. ^ "Clash of the Titans (2010) (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  37. ^ Pevere, Geoff (7 December 2010). "The Digital Revolution: Part 1". The Star. Toronto.
  38. ^ Chris Hewitt (9 June 2009). "Neeson And Cooper Are The A-Team". Empire. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  39. ^ "Cooper in A-Team film?". Retrieved 11 June 2009.[dead link]
  40. ^ Cohen, Tamara; Caldwell, Simon (4 December 2010). "Narnia fans' fury after Liam Neeson claims Aslan – the symbol of Christ – could also be Mohammed". Daily Mail. London.
  41. ^ The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, vol iii, p 160: "I found the name [Aslan]...it is the Turkish for Lion. ... And of course I meant the Lion of Judah."
  42. ^ a b Fleming, Michael (11 January 2005). "Lincoln logs in at DreamWorks: Spielberg, Neeson eye Abe pic". Variety. Retrieved 24 January 2007.
  43. ^ Evry, Max (24 January 2007). "Liam Neeson Talks Lincoln". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved 2 May 2007.
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  55. ^ Blaney, Retta. "Acting Is a Form of Prayer". BeliefNet. Retrieved 16 July 2007.
  56. ^ "Neeson refuses hometown honour". BBC News. 21 March 2000. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  57. ^ a b Liam Neeson arrives in Ballymena to receive award". BBC. Retrieved 28 January 2013
  58. ^ Wilson, Jamie (31 December 1999). "Top billing at last for veteran entertainers; Showbusiness Awards for Elizabeth Taylor and Shirley Bassey". The Guardian. London. p. 4. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  59. ^ "New York Dinner Gala – 5.8.2008". The Ireland Funds. Retrieved 7 May 2012.[dead link]
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  61. ^ "The 7th Annual IFTA Nominees" (.pdf). Irish Film & Television Awards. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
  62. ^ "Smithsonian Institution[dead link]". Retrieved 17 October 2010
  63. ^ Name * (15 February 2013). "Liam Neeson voices South African animated film 'Khumba'". allafricancinema. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  64. ^ "Liam Neeson voices leopard in Khumba". Screenafrica.com. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
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