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Image source: StarsUnfolded

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Liam Neeson Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthJune 7, 1952

BirthplaceBallymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

ProfessionActor

NationalityBritish, American

Marital statusMarried (widowed)

SpouseNatasha Richardson (married 1994; died 2009)

FamilySons: Micheál Richard Antonio Neeson (b. 1995), Daniel Jack Neeson (b. 1996)

Liam Neeson Biography

Liam Neeson is a Northern Irish–born actor whose breakthrough came playing Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List. Over a decades-spanning career he has taken

Early life and background
William John Neeson was born on June 7, 1952, in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Raised in a Roman Catholic family, his parents were Bernard Neeson, who worked as a school caretaker, and Katherine “Kitty” Neeson, who worked as a cook. He grew up in Ballymena and developed interests that included boxing in his youth.

Neeson studied at Queen’s University Belfast, where he completed an undergraduate degree in physics and computer science. He later trained in acting at the Gaiety School of Drama in Dublin, which set the stage for his shift from local work into a professional performing career. Before acting full-time, he held jobs such as a fork-lift operator at Guinness and a truck driver.

Career
Neeson’s screen debut came in 1978 with roles in the film Pilgrim’s Progress and the television series Play for Today. He established himself across theatre, television and film, including notable early TV guest work such as an appearance on Miami Vice.

The defining turning point in his career arrived in 1993 when he portrayed Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List. That performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and raised his international profile. Later high-profile roles brought further recognition, including Michael Collins (which led to a Golden Globe nomination), Darkman, and the role of Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. He also voiced the lion Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia film series and played action-oriented parts such as Bryan Mills in the Taken films.

Neeson’s range has included dramatic, action and voice work. He received the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor for Kinsey in 2004. Over the years he has been honored by institutions in his native Ireland as well: Queen’s University Belfast awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2009, and the Ballymena Borough Council granted him the Freedom of the Borough in 2013. The Irish Film and Television Academy presented him with an Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award in 2016.

Public profile
Neeson holds dual British and American nationality, having become a naturalized U.S. citizen in August 2009. He is identified with several well-known film roles across genres and has been recognized in popular lists compiled by publications such as Empire magazine. In March 2011 he was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

His physical presence—listed at about 1.88 meters (6 feet 2 inches) and roughly 85 kilograms (187 pounds)—and distinctive voice have contributed to the public perception of his screen persona. He has also narrated documentary and family-friendly projects, including the nature-related Journey into Amazing Caves (2001).

Personal life
Neeson met actress Natasha Richardson while performing in a Broadway revival of Anna Christie in 1993. They married on July 3, 1994, and had two sons, Micheál Richard Antonio Neeson (born June 22, 1995) and Daniel Jack Neeson (born August 27, 1996). Richardson died in 2009 following a skiing accident.

Neeson has described a personal history of quitting smoking and giving up alcohol. His background includes early athletic pursuits in boxing, and his early stage experiences reportedly began while still a student.

Controversies and public reactions
Over the years Neeson has been involved in public controversies around remarks and incidents that attracted media attention. He has also been the subject of inaccurate claims that he addressed publicly, including denials of a reported religious conversion. Political and community reactions arose at times, such as during the offer of local civic honors in his hometown.

Latest updates
By the late 2010s Neeson continued to receive recognition for his career contributions, including an IFTA award in 2016 and civic honors in 2013. He has remained active in film and voice work and has served in advocacy roles such as with UNICEF.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Liam Neeson, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Journey into Amazing Caves

Narrator of the 2001 documentary feature.

2001
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Career Highlights

  1. Breakthrough role as Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List, earning an Academy Award nomination
  2. Golden Globe nomination for Michael Collins
  3. Voiced Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia
  4. LA Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor for Kinsey (2004)
  5. Named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador (2011)
  6. Honorary doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast (2009)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Liam Neeson born?

Liam Neeson was born on June 7, 1952.

What is Liam Neeson known for?

Liam Neeson is known for actor.

What is Liam Neeson’s marital status?

Liam Neeson's marital status is listed as Married (widowed).

Who is Liam Neeson married to?

Liam Neeson is publicly listed as married to Natasha Richardson (married 1994; died 2009).