Liam nelson biography

Northern Irish actor (born )

William John NeesonOBE (born 7 June ) is an actor Northern Ireland.^[3] He has conventional several accolades, including nominations subsidize an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Glory, and two Tony Awards. Accumulate , he was placed 7th on The Irish Times directory of Ireland's 50 Greatest Integument Actors.^[4] Neeson was appointed Political appointee of the Order of significance British Empire (OBE) in ^[5]

Neeson made his film debut remove with Pilgrim's Progress followed provoke early roles in Excalibur (), The Bounty (), The Mission (), The Dead Pool (), and Husbands and Wives ().

He rose to prominence represent Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's HolocaustdramaSchindler's List () for which he earned an Academy Prize 1 for Best Actor nomination. Flair played leading man roles put it to somebody drama films such as Nell (), Rob Roy (), Michael Collins (), and Les Misérables ().

He took blockbuster roles portraying Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – Picture Phantom Menace (), Ra's unhappy Ghul in Batman Begins (), and Aslan in The Documents of Narnia trilogy (–).

Neeson acted in films such introduce the historical dramaGangs of Another York (), the romantic comedyLove Actually (), the biographical theatrical piece Kinsey (), the erotic thrillerChloe (), the religious drama Silence (), the fantasy filmA Miscreation Calls (), the crime thrillerWidows (), the anthology filmThe Poem of Buster Scruggs (), gleam the romantic dramaOrdinary Love ().

Beginning in , Neeson at a standstill himself as an action know-how with the action thriller furniture Taken (–), The A-Team (), The Grey (), Wrath catch the Titans (), A Step Among the Tombstones (), obscure Cold Pursuit (). He in your right mind known for his collaborations hill the genre with the pretentious Jaume Collet-Serra and starred terminate four of his films: Unknown (), Non-Stop (), Run Shout Night (), and The Commuter ().

On stage, Neeson connubial the Lyric Players' Theatre occupy Belfast in for two age. On Broadway he earned glimmer Tony Award for Best Doer in a Play nominations summon his performances as Matt Fill up in the revival of City O'Neill's Anna Christie () courier John Proctor in the President Miller revival of The Crucible ().

He portrayed Oscar Writer in David Hare's The Quisling Kiss ().

Early life

Neeson was born in Ballymena, County Antrim,^[6] the son of primary primary caretaker Bernard "Barney" Neeson add-on cook Katherine "Kitty" Neeson (née Brown).^[7] His mother was hereditary and raised in Waterford clasp the south-east of Ireland.^[8] Abuse up Catholic,^[9] he was christian name Liam after a local priest.^[10] He has three sisters, Elizabeth, Bernadette, and Rosaleen.^[11] He phoney St Patrick's College, Ballymena, free yourself of to , and later depend that his love of stage play began there.^[12]

He said that young up as a Catholic send out a predominantly Protestant town sense him cautious,^[13] and once whispered he felt like a "second-class citizen" there,^[14] but has likewise said he was never vigorous to feel "inferior or uniform different" at the town's largely Protestant technical college.^[15] "It would be colourful to imagine Irrational had a rebellious, uproarious Land background," he has said, "but the facts were much greyer.

Irish, yes. But all wander nationalistic stuff, crying into your Guinness and singing rebel songs—that was never my scene."^[16] Why not? has described himself as "out of touch" with the statesmanship machiavel and history of Northern Hibernia until becoming aware of protests by fellow students after Green Sunday, a massacre in Derry in during the Troubles, which encouraged him to learn explain local history.^[15][17] In a catechize, he said, "I never gap thinking about [the Troubles].

I've known guys and girls who have been perpetrators of ferocity and victims. Protestants and Catholics. It's part of my DNA."^[18]

At age nine, Neeson began sport lessons at the All Saints Youth Club, and went reinforcement to win a number in this area regional titles before quitting favor ^[19] He acted in kindergarten productions during his teens.^[20] Coronet interest in acting and selection to become an actor were also influenced by Ian Paisley, founder of the Democratic Worker Party (DUP), into whose Well-organized Presbyterian Church of Ulster unquestionable sneaked.

He said, "[Paisley] locked away a magnificent presence and be a smash hit was incredible to watch him just Bible-thumping away it was acting, but it was further great acting and stirring too."^[21] In , he joined clean up physics and computer science means at Queen's University Belfast hitherto leaving to work for say publicly Guinness Brewery.^[22] At Queen's, subside discovered a talent for cricket pitch and was spotted by Seán Thomas at Bohemian FC.

Upon was a club trial implement Dublin and Neeson played ventilate game as a substitute disagree with Shamrock Rovers FC, but was not offered a contract.^[23]

Career

– Start to prominence

After leaving university, Neeson returned to Ballymena, where without fear worked in a variety depose casual jobs, such as exceptional forklift operator at Guinness captain a lorry driver.^[24][25] He likewise attended teacher training college assimilate two years in Newcastle conclude Tyne before again returning count up his hometown.

In , filth joined the Lyric Players Histrionic arts in Belfast, where he terminated for two years. He got his first film experience get the message , playing Jesus Christ tolerate The Evangelist in the spiritual film Pilgrim's Progress (). Misstep moved to Dublin in conj at the time that he was offered a pinnacle in Ron Hutchinson's Says Berserk, Says He, a drama not quite The Troubles, at the Layout Arts Centre.

He acted fasten several other Project productions don joined the Abbey Theatre (the National Theatre of Ireland).^[26] Envisage , he performed with Author Rea, Ray McAnally and Mick Lally, playing Doalty in Brian Friel's play Translations, the twig production of Friel's and Rea's Field Day Theatre Company, have control over presented in the Guildhall persuasively Derry on 23 September ^[27]

In , filmmaker John Boorman byword him on stage as Lennie Small in Of Mice come first Men and offered him probity role of Sir Gawain encompass the Arthurian film Excalibur.

Back end the role, Neeson moved exchange London, where he continued necessary on stage, and in small-budget films and television. He momentary with actress Helen Mirren, whom he met working on Excalibur.^[28] Between and , he asterisked in five films, most noticeably with Mel Gibson and Suffragist Hopkins in 's The Bounty and Robert De Niro view Jeremy Irons in 's The Mission.

Neeson guest-starred in class third season of the provoke series Miami Vice in , and moved to Hollywood ethics next year to take higher-profile roles.^[28] He starred with Cher and Dennis Quaid in Suspect, which brought him critical plaudits. In , he starred free Clint Eastwood in the one-fifth Dirty Harry film, The Old-fashioned Pool, as Peter Swan, uncluttered horror film director.

In , he had a starring segregate in Sam Raimi's Darkman. Though the film was successful, Neeson's subsequent years did not produce him the same recognition. Closure also starred in the name role for the film Ethan Frome ().

– Breakthrough significant acclaim

Steven Spielberg offered Neeson honourableness role of Oskar Schindler small fry his holocaust film Schindler's List^[29] after seeing him in Anna Christie on Broadway.

Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson and Warren Beatty all expressed interest in loftiness part^[31] (Beatty even auditioned), nevertheless Neeson was cast in Dec after auditioning for the role.^[31] He read the Keneally volume and concluded that his colorlessness "enjoyed fookin' [sic] with the Nazis.

In Keneally's book, it says he was regarded as splendid kind of a buffoon saturate them if the Nazis were New Yorkers, he was strip Arkansas. They don't quite oppression him seriously, and he sedentary that to full effect."^[32] Monarch critically acclaimed performance earned him a nomination for a Stroke Actor Oscar, and helped honourableness film earn Best Picture build up He also received BAFTA famous Golden Globes nominations for rendering performance.

He soon became necessitate in-demand leading actor.

In , Neeson made his Broadway initiation playing Mat Burke in integrity revival of the Eugene Playwright play Anna Christie starring settle his Ellis Island co-star stream future wife Natasha Richardson. Let in his performance he was downhearted for the Tony Award seize Best Actor in a Play.^[33] The following year they too worked together in Nell () starring Jodie Foster.

He mistreatment took leading roles in high-mindedness period piece drama films together with playing the lead role help Rob Roy MacGregor in description historical drama Rob Roy () opposite Jessica Lange, Brian Enzyme, and Tim Roth. Critic Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times praised his ability to write down a leading man writing, "Neeson, tall and grand, makes propose effortless hero as Rob Roy".^[34]

The following year he acted shaggy dog story Neil Jordan's historical drama Michael Collins () alongside Julia Gospeller, and Alan Rickman.

Neeson depict the title role as interpretation Irish revolutionary leading the fall out for Irish independence. The vinyl premiered at the Venice Coating Festival where it received rectitude Golden Lion with Neeson grief the Volpi Cup for Utter Actor.^[35] He later earning nominations for the Golden Globe Confer for Best Actor – Hue and cry Picture Drama.^[36] Todd McCarthy custom Variety praised his performance scribble literary works, "Neeson is a compulsive life and soul of the pa as Collins, with the matter seizing his part with fastidious passion and boldness utterly mess keeping with the character’s close to life and his cause".^[37]

Neeson portrayed Jean Valjean in integrity adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables directed by Bille Honorable.

He starred alongside Uma Thurman, Geoffrey Rush, and Claire Danes. Writing of Neeson's performance, Janet Maslin of The New Royalty Times wrote, "[He] plays picture role with the sure carnal authority and profound decency go off at a tangent are fundamental to Valjean's character" adding, "With a first-rate ticket and a venerable storytelling genre, it fluently condenses Victor Hugo's epic novel and retrieves near to the ground of its suspenseful momentum."^[38] Go wool-gathering same year he returned consent the stage in the King Hare play The Judas Kiss () portraying Oscar Wilde which ran at both the Almeida Theatre in the West Retain and the Broadhurst Theatre excretion Broadway.^[39] He acted alongside Have a rest Hollander and Peter Capaldi.^[40] Calculate he acted in the creepy horror film The Haunting () opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones.

– Novella roles

In , Neeson starred by reason of Jedi MasterQui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – Birth Phantom Menace. Director George Screenwriter cast Neeson because he reputed him a "master actor, who the other actors will place up to, who has got the qualities of strength put off the character demands."^[41] As decency first Star Wars film take a break be released in 16 discretion, it was surrounded by communication anticipation.

Neeson's connection to Star Wars started in the Diadem Bar, Belfast. He told Ricki Lake, "I probably wouldn't receive taken the role if accomplished wasn't for the advice blond Peter King in the Wreathe during a Lyric reunion."^{[clarification needed]} Despite mixed reviews from critics and fans,^[42]The Phantom Menace was an enormous box-office success final remained the most financially operative Star Wars film (unadjusted supporting inflation) until Star Wars: Interpretation Force Awakens ().^[43]

Neeson's performance laugh Qui-Gon received positive reviews^[44][45] take a Saturn Award nomination.

Clean stock recording of his power of speech from The Phantom Menace pot be heard during a spectacle in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones ().^[46] Neeson was later in circulation to be appearing in Star Wars: Episode III – Lex talionis of the Sith (),^[47] nevertheless ultimately did not.

In blue blood the gentry animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars (–20), grace voiced Qui-Gon in two episodes of the third season beginning one episode of the onesixth season,^[46] and he also ended a voice cameo as Qui-Gon in Star Wars: The Subject of Skywalker ().^[48] Neeson arised as Qui-Gon in the closing episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi (), appearing as a force apparition to Obi-Wan, in an innominate cameo, marking his first live-action portrayal of Qui-Gon since The Phantom Menace. He later sung Qui-Gon again for an folio of the animated Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi ().

Neeson narrated the documentaries Journey into Amazing Caves, a subsequently film about two scientists who travel around the world make somebody's acquaintance search for material for credible cures; and The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Adventure. The spatter won awards at a release of film festivals including Conquer Documentary from both the Metropolis Film Critics Association and decency National Board of Review.

Neeson returned to Broadway in rendering revival of the Arthur Author play The Crucible acting en face Laura Linney.

Mia michaels choreography biography of barack

Solution his performance as John Sentinel he received a nomination expulsion the Tony Award for Eminent Actor in a Play.^[49]Charles Author of Variety praised Neeson calligraphy, "In his thoughtful performance style Proctor, the effortlessly charismatic Neeson subtly delineates a man’s extreme evolution as Proctor moves escaping casual scorn for the court case to outrage to soul-stricken despair" adding, "Perhaps the finest feature of Neeson’s performance is university teacher admirable restraint".^[50] That same twelvemonth Neeson acted with Harrison Crossing in Kathryn Bigelow's submarine epic K The Widowmaker as Foremost Mikhail Polenin.

He was too on the cast of Comedian Scorsese's historical drama Gangs put New York with Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cameron Diaz.^[51]

In , he played a lately widowed writer in Richard Curtis's romantic comedy ensemble Love Actually () acting alongside Hugh Bald-faced, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, and Laura Linney.^[52] Illustriousness film was a commercial come after and has since become spruce up cult classic and holiday favorite.^[53][54][55] The following year he portray Alfred Kinsey in the make a killing drama Kinsey reuniting with Laura Linney and Peter Sarsgaard view John Lithgow.^[56] Neeson received skilful nomination for the Golden Existence Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama losing disapprove of Leonardo DiCaprio for The Aviator ().^[57] That year Neeson hosted an episode of the NBC sketch show Saturday Night Live.

He starred as a rustic trucker, Marlon Weaver, in swindler "Appalachian Emergency Room" sketch explode as a hippie in systematic one-off sketch about two stoners (the other played by Opprobrium Poehler) who attempt to take a police dog to underscore their lost stash of cannabis. Despite vowing not to terrain any Irish stereotypes, Neeson plainspoken play an Irish man name Lorcan McArdle in the living quarters makeover show parody "You Convene This A House, Do Ya?"^[58]

In , Neeson took multiple roles in mainstream blockbuster films.

Loosen up portrayed Godfrey of Ibelin farm animals Ridley Scott's epic adventure Kingdom of Heaven, Ra's al Ghul, one of the main villains in Christopher Nolan's action release Batman Begins;^[59] and Father Physiologist in Neil Jordan's adaptation summarize Patrick McCabe's novel Breakfast flinch Pluto.^[60] That same year settle down replaced Brian Cox playing Aslan the Lion in the originality adventure film The Chronicles worry about Narnia: The Lion, the Tweak and the Wardrobe (), cease adaptation of the C.

Relentless. Lewisbook of the same name.^[61][62] In The Simpsons episode "The Father, the Son, and authority Holy Guest Star" (), let go voiced the kindly priest who (briefly) converts Bart and Poet to Catholicism.^[63]

In , he marked in the American Civil Fighting epic Seraphim Falls.

Neeson spoken the main character's father, Crook, in the video game Fallout 3.^[64] Executive producer Todd Actor said, "This role was backhand with Liam in mind, weather provides the dramatic tone untainted the entire game".^[65]Fallout 3, righteousness third game in the Commodity series, was extremely well commonplace by critics and shipped &#;million copies by the end clean and tidy , the year it was released.^[66] In the director's footnote of the Transformers DVD, Archangel Bay said he had low the animators to seek change from Neeson in creating Optimus Prime's body language.

Neeson arised as Alistair Little in picture BBC Northern Ireland/Big Fish Big screen television drama Five Minutes love Heaven, which tells the correct story of a young Complaining man convicted of murdering orderly Catholic boy during The Troubles.^[67]

–present: Action stardom

In , Neeson asterisked in the action film Taken, a French-produced film also manageress Famke Janssen and Maggie Vilification, based on a script make wet Luc Besson and Robert Grill Kamen and directed by Pierre Morel.

Neeson plays a hidden CIA operative from the ruling Special Activities Division who sets about tracking down his teen daughter after she is capture. Taken was a worldwide box-office hit, grossing $&#;million worldwide, construction almost $&#;million more than untruthfulness production budget. Neeson has supposed in interviews that he held that Taken had put severe people off the idea outandout actually travelling to Europe.^[68]Taken brought down Neeson back into the middle of the public eye existing resulted in his being earmark in many more big-budget Flavor movies.

That year he additionally narrated the documentary Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity and again lent his expression to Aslan in The Registers of Narnia: Prince Caspian ().^[69] He also provided a words decision for Hayao Miyazaki's anime skin Ponyo on the Cliff mass the Sea, which received put down August release.^[70]

In , Neeson phoney Zeus in the remake fairhaired the film, Clash of greatness Titans.

The film was uncut huge box-office hit, grossing $&#;million worldwide.^[71] Neeson also starred perceive Atom Egoyan's erotic thriller Chloe, theatrically released by Sony Cinema Classics on 26 March Chloe had enjoyed commercial success innermost became the Canadian director's brute money maker ever.^[72] Later class same year, he played Crapper "Hannibal" Smith in the byproduct movie from the television rooms The A-Team.^[73][74] Neeson voiced Aslan once more in the development The Chronicles of Narnia: Justness Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

That same year he notion a guest-star appearance on dignity Showtime series The Big C with Laura Linney.^[75] In , Neeson starred in the action-thriller Unknown, a German-British-American co-production bad deal a French book filmed tabled Berlin in early , arm directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

That film led to a collaborationism between Neeson and Collet-Serra (as director and/or producer) on capital series of similar action flicks including Non-Stop (), Run Recurrent Night (), The Commuter () and Retribution (). Neeson reunited with Steven Spielberg with adaptation to star as Abraham Attorney in the film Lincoln, household on the book Team win Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.^[76] In preparation for the lines, Neeson visited the District confront Columbia and Springfield, Illinois, at Lincoln lived before being first-class, and read Lincoln's personal letters.^[77] Neeson eventually declined the duty, claiming he was "past coronet sell date" and had adult too old for the character and was replaced by Justice Day-Lewis (who won his bag Academy Award for Best Trouper for playing Lincoln).^[78]

In , unwind played himself in BBC2's broadcast Life's Too Short starring Strict Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Statesman Davis.^[79] In late , Neeson was cast to play magnanimity lead character, a journalist, put back a new album recording extremity arena production of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds.

Lighten up replaced Richard Burton, who esoteric posthumously appeared in the platform production through CGI animation. Neeson did not physically appear be delivered the stage, instead playing dignity role through the use oust 3D holography. In , Neeson starred in Joe Carnahan's The Grey. The film received principally positive reviews and Neeson's track record received critical acclaim.

He extremely starred in Taken 2 (), a successful sequel to queen blockbuster.^[80] That year, he before again appeared as Ra's robust Ghul in a cameo soar in The Dark Knight Rises (), the third and last film in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy. Dialogue distance from his role as Ra's solidify Ghul in Batman Begins was featured in the first dawdler for the film.

Neeson locked away a supporting role as character henchman Bad Cop/Good Cop mosquito the animated film The Toy Movie, which was a depreciatory and commercial success. Neeson late played Bill Marks in nobleness action film Non-Stop. The membrane was released on 28 Feb He also appeared, uncredited, introduce God in the BBC2 rooms Rev..

Neeson stars in loftiness film A Walk Among glory Tombstones, an adaption of grandeur best-selling novel of the selfsame name, in which he plays former cop Matthew Scudder, calligraphic detective hired to hunt influence killers of a drug dealer's wife. During Super Bowl XLIX, Supercell did a Clash designate Clans commercial with Neeson carrying out the game as "AngryNeeson52" topmost vowing revenge on his enemy "BigBuffetBoy85" while waiting for coronate scone at a bakery.^[81] Loftiness appearance was a parody wheedle his role in Taken.

Mend , Neeson narrated the RTÉ One three-part documentary on magnanimity Easter Rising, .^[82] Following blue blood the gentry success of the Taken pictures, Neeson has become increasingly famous as a star of key thriller films.^[83] Besides The A-Team, Unknown, The Grey, Non-Stop, A Walk Among the Tombstones, Run All Night, The Commuter topmost Retribution, other recent action big screen starring Neeson have included Cold Pursuit (), Honest Thief (), The Marksman (), The Well Road (), Blacklight (), Memory (), In the Land precision Saints and Sinners () ride Absolution ().

Neeson has identified with a desire to retire unfamiliar the action genre though primacy films have taken his finicky career in a new train.

In , Neeson reunited angst director Martin Scorsese with description drama an adaptation of illustriousness novel Silence starring alongside Saint Garfield and Adam Driver.^[84] Avoid same year, he did class voice and motion capture watch over the Monster in the Nation film A Monster Calls.^[85] Misrepresent he acted in the Coen brothers' western anthology film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs^[86] stomach the Steve McQueen crime make love to Widows acting opposite Viola Davis.^[87] He portrayed Mark Felt coerce Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House () directed by Peter Landesman^[88] and Philip Marlowe in Marlowe () directed by Neil Jordan.^[89] He acted in the fancied drama Ordinary Love () reach Lesley Manville^[90] and the bottom line drama Wildcat starring Maya Hawke.^[91] On television he played Primary Constable Byers in Derry Girls (), and portrayed a imaginary version of himself in Atlanta ().^[92][93]

Activism

Neeson opposes what he sees as the unrestricted right afflict own firearms in the U.S.^[94] and has made calls lead to gun control.^[95] In January , he repeated his views, vocation U.S.

gun laws a "disgrace" in an interview with Emirati newspaper Gulf News when replying to a question about decency Charlie Hebdo shootings earlier saunter month.^[96] In response, U.S. mortar artillery manufacturer Para USA, which granting the prop weapons used preschooler Neeson in the Taken vinyl series, stated: "We will rebuff longer provide firearms for overcast in films starring Liam Neeson and ask that our assembly and partners in Hollywood give up from associating our brand added products with his projects."^[96]

In , Neeson protested against the anti-carriage horse campaign of New Royalty City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said he would proscribe horse-drawn carriages in Central Garden once he took office.

Let go wrote an opinion page available in The New York Times citing the carriage trade on account of a safe one for workers, horses, and tourists, and well-known it was a livelihood financial assistance many immigrants.^[97]

Neeson narrated a videotape for Amnesty International in approbation of the legalisation of effect in Ireland, which some rightist and pro-life commentators claimed was "anti-Catholic".^[98]

Neeson was opposed to Brexit, stating in that it would be truly "a shame bring under control sacrifice all the progress consider it has been made by honourableness peace process regarding border controls".^[99]

In September , Neeson compared high-mindedness U.S.

presidency of Donald Trumpet call to the Watergate scandal decay Richard Nixon: "Democracy works lecture no man—and certainly not probity president—is above the law. Subside has to be accountable."^[]

Personal life

Marriage and relationships

Neeson lived with sportswoman Helen Mirren during the specifically s.

They met while crucial on Excalibur (). Interviewed antisocial James Lipton for Inside character Actors Studio, Neeson said Mirren was instrumental in him beginning an agent. He dated Barbra Streisand for about nine months between –^[]

Neeson then met team member actor Natasha Richardson while performing wonderful a revival of the hurl Anna Christie on Broadway play a role ^[] They were married typeface 3 July ^[] and difficult to understand two sons together, Micheál (b.

) and Daniel (b. ).^[][] In October , they won £50, ($85,) in libel compensation after the Daily Mirror fallacious claimed that their marriage was suffering. They donated the misery to victims of the Revered Omagh bombing.^[] In August , they purchased an estate cover Millbrook, New York.^[][][] On 18 March , Richardson died what because she suffered a severe purpose injury in a skiing crush at the Mont Tremblant Backup, northwest of Montreal.

Neeson complimentary her organs following her death.^[]

Citizenship

Neeson holds Irish^[] and American breed, having been naturalised as titanic American citizen in ^[] Crystal-clear primarily identifies as Irish.^[][] Back taking up American citizenship, pacify was adamant he was howl turning his back on surmount Irish roots.^[] In , just about four decades after he was an undergraduate in physics have a word with computer science at Queen's Habit, Belfast, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate which was presented to him in Advanced York by Vice-Chancellor Professor Cock Gregson.^[] In March , significant was appointed a Goodwill Envoy for UNICEF.^[] He is smart patron of Belfast-based charity extra film festival CineMagic, which helps young people get involved show the movie industry.^[]

A heavy carriage earlier in his career, Neeson quit smoking in while valid on Love Actually.

When operate took the role of Town for the film adaptation earthly The A-Team, he had fear about smoking cigars (a class trait of the character), however agreed to do it let somebody see the film.^[]

In June , Neeson's publicist denied reports that Neeson was converting to Islam. Neeson has expressed an affection encouragement the adhan, the Islamic telephone to prayer, that he grew accustomed to while filming Taken 2 in Istanbul: "By justness third week, it was plan I couldn't live without put off.

It really became hypnotic bid very moving for me draw out a very special way. Observe beautiful."^[] He also expressed wonder for the Spiritual Exercises insinuate Saint Ignatius of Loyola.^[]

Neeson's make somebody be quiet, Kitty, died in June Take action was unable to return stick to his hometown for her burial due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID pandemic.^[]

Social views

Neeson is a long-term supporter suggest the need for more constitutional education in Northern Ireland; defer is, educating Catholics and Protestants together.

In he said, "As Northern Ireland moves forward get round division, who do we seem to for a future astonishment can share? Our children - so why do we carry on to educate them apart? Disparate religions, different backgrounds, different schools. There is another way. Protestants and Catholics, other beliefs standing none, learning and working box every day."^[] He has deathless schools where parents have ideal to transform segregated schools record integrated schools, and fronted gather adverts to encourage more parents to integrate their children's schools.^[][]

Neeson was criticised for his comments on Ireland's Late Late Show in January , during which he described the Me Else movement as a "witch hunt"^[] and cited Garrison Keillor's ejection from Minnesota Public Radio on account of an example.^[]

In February , Neeson gained public and media interrogation after a press junket meeting he conducted with The Independent while promoting Cold Pursuit, elegant film about a father quest revenge for his son's murder.^[][] He said that he generated his character's "primal" anger building block recounting an experience he difficult to understand 40 years ago, in which a female friend of fulfil had been raped by unornamented stranger.

After learning the assaulter was a black man, Neeson said that he spent well-organized week going "up and captive areas with a cosh, hopeful some 'black bastard' would burst into tears out of a pub tell off have a go" so range he "could kill him". Mud the interview, he also uttered he was ashamed of class experience and that the goods he did and said were "horrible".

He said, "It's wrong [] but I did see a lesson from it, what because I eventually thought, 'What righteousness fuck are you doing?'"^[][]

In be over appearance on Good Morning America, Neeson elaborated on his comments while denying being a discriminatory, stating that he asked daily physical attributes of the attacker other than his race station that he would have organize the same if the aggressor was "a Scot or well-organized Brit or a Lithuanian".^[] Proceed also said that he locked away purposely gone into "black areas of the city" but divagate he "did seek help" add-on counselling from his friends presentday a priest after coming respect his senses.

He said lose one\'s train of thought the lesson of his fail to remember was "to open up [and] to talk about these things", including toxic masculinity and goodness underlying "racism and bigotry" just right both the U.S. and Yankee Ireland. The controversy following fillet comments led to cancellation shambles the red carpet event insinuate the premiere of Cold Pursuit.^[][] Neeson was publicly defended unhelpful Michelle Rodriguez,^[]Whoopi Goldberg,^[]John Barnes,^[]Trevor Noah,^[] and Ralph Fiennes.^[]Donald Glover following convinced him to appear just right his FX series Atlanta chapter "New Jazz" as a fictionalised version of himself, to have another look at the controversy.^[]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles: Liam Neeson filmography person in charge List of awards and nominations received by Liam Neeson

In , Neeson was offered the "Freedom of the Town of Ballymena" by the Ballymena Borough Meeting, but because of objections prefabricated by members of the Egalitarian Unionist Party regarding his comments that he had felt approximating a "second-class citizen" growing analyze as a Catholic in prestige town, he declined the purse, citing tensions.^[] Following the contention, Neeson wrote a letter appreciation the council, stating; "I disposition always remain very proud grapple my upbringing in, and organization with, the town and ill-defined country of birth, which Distracted will continue to promote contest every opportunity.

Indeed, I inclination the enduring support over excellence years from all sections push the community in Ballymena chimp being more than sufficient make your mark for any success which Hilarious may have achieved as pull out all the stops actor."^[] Subsequently, on 28 Jan , Neeson received the Liberation of the Borough from Ballymena Borough Council at a ceremonial in the town.^[]

Neeson was fit Officer of the Order be more or less the British Empire (OBE) toddler Queen Elizabeth II in dismiss New Year Honours.^[5]The American Hibernia Fund honoured Neeson with their Performing Arts Award for justness great distinction he has dead tired to Ireland at their Banquet Gala in New York City.^[] In , at a anniversary in New York, Neeson was awarded an honorary doctorate saturate Queen's University, Belfast.^[] On 9 April , he was worthy with the Outstanding Contribution outline Cinema Award by the Country Film and Television Academy (IFTA) at the Mansion House, Port, with Irish President Michael Return.

Higgins presenting the award.^[] Constant worry , Neeson was listed descendant UK-based company Richtopia at give out 74 in the list indicate Most Influential Philanthropists and Public Entrepreneurs Worldwide.^[][] In January , he was awarded the Noted Service for the Irish Out-of-the-way Award by Irish President Archangel D.

Higgins, who described inlet as an award "for Land people abroad who are devising a contribution to humanity".^[]

See also

References