Who is Liam Neeson?
Liam Neeson is an actor from Northern Ireland. He rose to prominence when he starred in the title role in 1993 Oscar-winner Schindler’s List.
Neeson was then starred in other films, including the title role in the historical biopic Michael Collins, the film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel Les Misérables, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace as Qui-Gon Jinn, the biographical drama Kinsey, Batman Begins as Ra’s al Ghul, the action thriller series Taken (2008–2014), Clash of the Titans as Zeus, The Chronicles of Narnia series (2005–2010) as Aslan, and The Grey. All these movies were a big hit critically as well as box office-wise.
He has been nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor, a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role & 3 Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. Empire magazine ranked Neeson among both the “100 Sexiest Stars in Film History” and “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time”.
Age, Parents, Siblings, Family, Ethnicity, Nationality, and Education
Neeson was born Liam John Neeson on 7 June 1952, in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. He was born to Katherine “Kitty” Neeson (née Brown) and Bernard “Barney” Neeson. Raised as a Roman Catholic, he was named Liam after the local priest. The third of 4 siblings, he has 3 sisters: Elizabeth, Bernadette, and Rosaleen. At 9, Neeson began boxing lessons at the All Saints Youth Club and later became Ulster’s amateur senior boxing champion.
Liam Neeson first stepped on stage at age 11 after his English teacher offered him the lead role in a school play, which he accepted because the girl he was attracted to was starring in it. He continued to act in school productions over the following years. His interest in acting and decision to become an actor was also influenced by minister Ian Paisley, into whose Free Presbyterian church Neeson would sneak.
In 1971, Neeson was enrolled as a physics and computer science student at Queen’s University Belfast, before leaving to work for the Guinness Brewery. At Queen’s, he discovered a football talent and was spotted by Seán Thomas at Bohemian F.C. There was a club trial in Dublin and Neeson played 1 game as a substitute against Shamrock Rovers F.C. but was not offered a contract.
Neeson received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Queen’s University of Belfast, at the British consulate on May 6, 2009, in New York.
