15 Interesting Facts About Liam Neeson

Do you want to know some interesting facts about Liam Neeson?

Liam Neeson is a renowned Irish actor who has established himself in the entertainment industry for over 40 years.

His outstanding performances in movies such as The Dark Knight Rises, Taken, and Schindler’s List, have earned him significant recognition.

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Liam Neeson was born to a Catholic family on June 7, 1952, in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. He was the third of four children of Katherine Brown and Bernard Neeson – a cook and a primary school caretaker, respectively.

Neeson attended St. Patrick’s College in Ballymena from 1963 to 1967, where he discovered his love for drama, an interest that stuck with him throughout his life.

Let us explore some more interesting facts about Liam Neeson that you may not have known.

15 Interesting Facts About Liam Neeson

1. He was born William John Neeson

He decided to shorten his name to make it more memorable when going for auditions. And it totally worked!

Now he’s one of those famous Irish actors you instantly recognize in Hollywood.

2. Before he was famous, Neeson had quite a diverse range of jobs

In his early years, Liam Neeson worked as a forklift operator for Guinness, as a truck driver, as an assistant for architects, and even as an amateur boxer.

Neeson had also wanted to become a teacher and attended St. Mary’s Teaching College in Newcastle.

However, a particularly memorable event on his first day as a practice teacher compelled him to embrace the world of drama. With a career in teaching already out of question, he turned to theater acting in Belfast and, subsequently, on Broadway. And the rest is history.

3. Liam Neeson played as the crucified Jesus Christ in his first film

Liam Neeson embarked on his first foray into film in 1977, portraying the Evangelist in the religious film Pilgrim’s Progress.

This film adaptation by American Baptist minister and producer of Christian films Ken Anderson was released in 1978.

Besides the role of the Evangelist, Neeson also appeared as the crucified Christ in the movie.

4. Neeson lost out to André the Giant for a role in The Princess Bride

Liam Neeson pursued the role of Fezzik, the gentle giant, in the 1987 American fantasy adventure comedy film The Princess Bride.

However, director Rob Reiner felt that Neeson’s height of 6’4″ was not tall enough for the character. Ultimately, the role was given to professional wrestler André the Giant.

5. Liam Neeson is friends with Robert De Niro

Following his successful stage performances in Ireland during the 1970s, Liam Neeson managed to secure some notable roles in several films, including Excalibur (1981) and The Bounty (1984), in which which he shared the screen with Mel Gibson and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Neeson’s talent and versatility also landed him a role alongside Robert De Niro in the 1986 historical drama The Mission. The two great actors subsequently became friends.

6. Liam Neeson made a guest appearance on Miami Vice

It was Neeson’s friendship with De Niro that opened the door to another opportunity in the entertainment industry.

De Niro introduced Neeson to a casting agent, who later facilitated his participation in an episode of the popular American TV series Miami Vice in 1986.

In this episode, Neeson portrayed the role of an IRA terrorist whose character was killed when confronted by Miami Vice detectives Gina Calabrese (Saundra Santiago) and Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson).

7. He was considered for the James Bond role

The James Bond producer approached Neeson with an offer to play James Bond following Timothy Dalton.

However, Neeson declined the role because his then-partner and future wife late actress Natasha Richardson didn’t want him to take on the iconic character of James Bond.

He revealed that he turned down the opportunity to play 007 because he prioritized Richardson and their two sons, not wanting to be away from them for an extended period of 4 to 5 months on a movie set.

8. Liam Neeson got married in 1994 and became a widower in 2009

Neeson and Parent Trap actress Natasha Richardson crossed paths in 1993 on the set of Anna Christie on Broadway. They got married in 1994. They had two sons together – Micheál and Daniel, born in 1995 and 1996, respectively.

In 2009, Richardson met an accident while skiing in Quebec, Canada. She died in New York City due to a head injury sustained from the skiing accident. She was only 45 years old.

9. Neeson is actually the son-in-law of Tony Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave

Natasha Richardson, Liam Neeson’s late wife, was an English actress who came from an impressive lineage. Her parents were the talented actress Vanessa Redgrave and the renowned director/producer Tony Richardson.

In addition, Natasha’s grandparents were Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, two of the greatest actors that have ever graced the English cinema.

10. Neeson is an avid fly fisherman

When he isn’t acting, Liam Neeson enjoys spending his time fly fishing – cherishing his leisure moments on the water, casting his line, and simply relishing the tranquility of nature.

Thanks to his years of experience, the Irish actor has honed his skills and earned the status of an expert, frequently sharing his knowledge by teaching others the intricacies of the sport.

11. Liam Neeson lost the role of Van Helsing to Sir Anthony Hopkins in the 1992 film Dracula

Liam Neeson really had his heart set on playing Van Helsing in the 1992 film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

He was so close to nabbing the role when Anthony Hopkins swooped in and landed the role.

12. Neeson accepted the role of Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace without reading the screenplay

By putting his trust in the script and the filmmakers, Neeson took on the role of Qui-Gon Jinn in the 1991 film Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace without even reading the script – and the gamble paid off big-time!

His outstanding performance in the said movie not only earned critical acclaim but also won over the hearts of many Star Wars fans worldwide.

13. He used to be a heavy smoker

Back in the day, Neeson used to be quite a heavy smoker, but he managed to kick the habit in 2003 while filming Love Actually.

When he got the opportunity to play Hannibal in the 2010 action thriller The A-Team, he had some concerns about smoking cigars since it was a defining characteristic of the character. He eventually decided to light up some cigarettes for the movie.

14. There were rumors that Liam Neeson was converting to Islam

In 2012, there were some rumors claiming that Neeson was converting to Islam. His publicist was quick to step up and shut those rumors down.

However, the Catholic-born Irish actor did share something interesting about his time filming Taken 2 in Istanbul. He developed a deep affection for the Islamic call to prayer. He described it as “hypnotic, moving, and incredibly beautiful.”

15. Neeson also admires the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Neeson has also expressed admiration for the Spiritual Exercises (1522–1524) of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. This goes to show that the acclaimed actor appreciates different aspects of spirituality and finds value in various practices.