\nOver his almost 50-year career, Liam Neeson has been a Jedi Master, a humanitarian member of the Nazi party, a charming widower and a vengeful father in the Taken franchise, a role that transformed the actor into an iconic action star.\n
Recently, Neeson, who at 72 is unsure he can convincingly throw a punch, revealed that he\u2019s considering retirement as \u201cit has to stop at some stage.\u201d\n
Keep reading to learn more about the news that will surely shatter the hearts of Neeson\u2019s fans!\n
Liam Neeson is an acclaimed Irish actor known for his versatile roles across different genres, from dramatic performances to action-packed films. His breakthrough came in the early 1990s with his portrayal of Oskar Schindler in Schindler\u2019s List, earning him global recognition and multiple award nominations\u200b.\n
Over the next decade, the Oscar-nominated actor appeared in several films from charming romantic leads to a starring role as a Jedi Master in Star Wars, the biggest franchise in the world.\n
\n
Next, leaning on his \u201cvery particular set of skills,\u201d Neeson transformed into an action star with Taken (2008), a bold and unexpected career pivot that paid off spectacularly.\n
The Love Actually star\u2019s shift into the realm of high-octane thrillers came as a surprise to many. At the age of 56, Neeson found a new identity as a leading man in action-packed films, proving his versatility and enduring appeal across genres and generations.\n
Taken was a massive success, and the star\u2019s performance of Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative determined to rescue his kidnapped daughter, resonated with audiences.\n
\u201cIt just seemed to have touched something in the psychic nerve of moviegoing audiences,\u201d the father of two tells People in an October 2024 interview.\n
His gruff, no-nonsense portrayal of a relentless father made him an unlikely but hugely effective action hero. The film\u2019s iconic phone scene, where Mills delivers his memorable threat, became a defining moment in modern action cinema.\n
The film\u2019s success not only solidified Neeson\u2019s place as a late-career action star but also spawned two successful sequels and other similar roles in action films.\n
\u201cWhen he\u2019s immersed in the character he is, you see the hurt, you see the pain,\u201d says Hans Petter Moland, who directed Neeson in Cold Pursuit (2019) and also in the upcoming film Thug. \u201cHe becomes that man.\u201d\n
Despite his success in action films and the unwavering faith directors have in Neeson\u2019s ability to throw a punch, the Absolution star recently announced that he plans to retire from the genre due to his age.\n
\u201cI\u2019m 72, it has to stop at some stage,\u201d says Neeson, who\u2019s remains committed to performing many of his own stunts and fight scenes. This in part is due to his collaboration with longtime stunt coordinator and double Mark Vanselow. Their partnership, which began with Taken, has become a crucial element of Neeson\u2019s late-career action roles. Vanselow not only choreographs the intense fight sequences and physical stunts but also ensures that Neeson, despite his age, can perform as much of the action as possible while maintaining safety.\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t fool audiences. I don\u2019t want Mark to be fighting my fight scenes for me,\u201d Neeson added.\n
The Oscar-nominated actor then concluded: \u201cMaybe the end of next year. I think that\u2019s it.\u201d\n
But the star does seem to be preparing for another career transformation, this time as a comedy star.\n
He recently finished filming The Naked Gun, a reboot of the 1988 crime spoof comedy starring the late Leslie Nielson.\n
In the film, that\u2019s due to hit theaters in 2025, Neeson stars as the cop Frank Drebin \u2013 previously played by Nielson \u2013 alongside Baywatch beauty Pamela Anderson.\n
\u201cI\u2019m madly in love with her. I can\u2019t compliment her enough. She\u2019s funny,\u201d Neeson says, adding he\u2019s not so sure of his own comedy chops. \u201cWhether I can carry it or not, I honestly don\u2019t know.\u201d\n
Anderson however tells People that her co-star is \u201cbeing humble.\u201d \u201cIt was hard to keep a straight face in scenes together.\u201d\n
What do you think of Liam Neeson retiring the action genre? Please share your thoughts with us and then share this story so we can hear from others!\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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