His full name is William John Neeson, whose first name shortened derives his stage name of Liam. Born June 7, 1952 and was raised with his three sisters in Ballymena, a small town in Northern Ireland. It was his English teacher that inspired him to act, casting him in the lead of a school play.
Liam struggled like most trying to define himself and his path in life. He was active in boxing in his youth, so much so, he had his nose broke at the age of 15 and continued boxing throughout his teenage years carrying the title of Youth Heavyweight Champion of Ireland for three consecutive years.
Neeson attempted college and higher education without success. He tried computer sciences and even teaching but he felt the need for change. From forklift driver, a trucker to actor he found his destiny on the stage.
His former English teacher founded an amateur drama company, the Slemish Players, which lured him to the profession of acting. With several successful stage roles and acting in other play companies like the Lyric Players Theatre, in Belfast and Abbey Theatre in Dublin, he had firmly chose his career in acting.
Neeson’s first exposure on film movies was in the movie Pilgrim’s Progress (1979) but his first major role was in the now classic tale of Excalibur (1981) where he portrayed the knight, Sir Gawain. Most sci-fi watchers have seen the movie Krull (1983) that was not the best for realism.
Ellis Island (1984) was a strong mini-series with a host of characters, which Neeson played a part. It was on this movie set that he met his future wife, actress, Natasha Richardson whom he married in 1994. They now have two sons, Michael (b. 1995) and Daniel Jack (b. 1996). Natasha is the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave.
Between small parts and playhouse stage productions, Liam had kept very busy. Some prominent films have been made with Neeson playing supporting characters. The thriller Suspect (1989) where he plays a deaf and speechless man accused of murder as Cher his lawyer and juryman Dennis Quaid expose a corrupt judge.
he Dead Pool (1988) with tough guy Clint Eastwood, was a action thriller that merits watching. A high-strung action movie is with Patrick Swayze in Next of Kin (1989) where he plays Briar Gates who goes to the big city to avenge his brother’s death.
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