Liam Neeson

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Date of Birth : Jun 7th 1952

William John “Liam” Neeson OBE (born June 7, 1952) is an Academy Award-nominated Irish actor. He is known for his role as Oskar Schindler in the 1993 film Schindler’s List, and has since appeared in several popular film series, including the Star Wars prequel trilogy, The Chronicles of Narnia and Batman Begins. He has also continued to play real-life characters, including Michael Collins and Alfred Kinsey.

Neeson was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland to Barnard Neeson, a caretaker at the local Catholic girls’ school, and Katherine “Kitty” (née Brown), a cook. He was called Liam, the Irish equivalent to William, after the local priest. He was the third child in the family and the only boy among four siblings; his sisters are Elizabeth, Bernadette and Rosaline. At age nine, Neeson began boxing lessons at the All Saints Youth Club. It was at age eleven that Neeson first stepped on stage. His English teacher gave him the lead role in a school play, which he accepted because the girl he fancied would be starring. From then on, he kept acting in school productions for the following years..

Schindler’s List established Neeson as a widely sought after leading actor. He later starred in period pieces Rob Roy (1995) and Michael Collins (1996), the latter earning him another Golden Globes nomination and a win for Best Starring Role at the Venice Film Festival.

Neeson married actress Natasha Richardson in 1994, daughter of the late director Tony Richardson and screen legend Vanessa Redgrave. She is also a sister to Joely Richardson and a member of the theatrical Redgrave family. They had two sons together. Sadly in 2009 Natasha Richardson died suddenly in a ski accident.