Liam Neeson, well-loved for his action-packed roles, is taking a step back from the spotlight. At 72, he’s decided it’s time to ease off from those high-energy action films. His journey began on the theater stages of Belfast, and he’s had quite the cinematic adventure, starring in hits like Taken, Star Wars, and The Grey. Now, however, he acknowledges that the physical demands are catching up with him.
“I’m 72—it has to stop at some stage,” Liam shared with People. “You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want Mark [his dedicated stunt double Mark Vanselow] stepping in for all the action. It has to feel real.” Though he hasn’t pinned down an exact date for retirement, he suspects his exit from action films might happen around 2025, hinting, “Maybe the end of next year. I think that’s it.”
Neeson’s upcoming movie, Absolution, out on November 1, tells the story of an aging gangster attempting to rebuild family bonds and rectify his mistakes. He’s also just wrapped up filming a reboot of the classic comedy, The Naked Gun.
Hailing from Northern Ireland, Neeson’s film debut traces back to 1978 with Pilgrim’s Progress. His big breakthrough came with Schindler’s List, where he portrayed Oskar Schindler so compellingly that he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor at 41. Then in 1999, the Star Wars universe welcomed him as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace.
Following his impressive entry into the Star Wars saga, Neeson transitioned into action film stardom with titles like Batman Begins and Taken. The latter skyrocketed him into an unlikely action hero status in his 50s, carving out a niche in films like The Grey and Non-Stop.
Neeson’s decision to gradually retreat from action is poignant, almost a year after revealing he once came close to playing James Bond. This role could have changed not only his career but also his personal life.
Before the 1993 release of Schindler’s List, Neeson found love with Natasha Richardson while starring on Broadway in Anna Christie. They married in 1994, but Neeson opened up in a Rolling Stone interview about the ultimatum that came with considering the Bond role. “I knew the Broccolis,” he mentioned, referring to Bond film producers Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and his daughter, Barbara. Post-Schindler’s List, they saw him as a potential James Bond. But Natasha firmly stated that marriage was not in the cards if he said yes to 007.
Neeson recalled, “She gave me a James Bond ultimatum. And she meant it!” Reflecting on why she was opposed, he stated, “Come on, there’s all those gorgeous girls in different countries… getting into bed and getting out of bed.” Ultimately, the part went to Pierce Brosnan, who debuted as Bond in 1995’s GoldenEye.
