Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Liam Neeson

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Liam Neeson made an impact.

Liam Neeson is a highly acclaimed Irish actor recognized for his extensive and diverse career. He has been nominated for prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Awards. He was also nominated for two Tony Awards. Recognized as one of Ireland's greatest film actors, he has also been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to acting.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1993: Meeting Natasha Richardson

In 1993, Liam Neeson met actress Natasha Richardson while performing in a revival of the play Anna Christie on Broadway.

August 1998: Omagh Bombing

In August 1998, the Omagh bombing occurred. Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson later donated their libel damages to the victims.

October 1998: Libel Damages Win

In October 1998, Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson won £50,000 in libel damages from the Daily Mirror for a false claim and donated the money to victims of the August 1998 Omagh bombing.

2001: Narration of Documentaries

In 2001, Liam Neeson narrated two documentaries: Journey into Amazing Caves, which follows scientists searching for cures, and The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Adventure, which won awards including Best Documentary from the Chicago Film Critics Association and the National Board of Review.

2002: Acting in K-19: The Widowmaker and Gangs of New York

In 2002, Liam Neeson acted alongside Harrison Ford in K-19: The Widowmaker, playing Captain Mikhail Polenin. He was also in the cast of Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York with Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cameron Diaz.

2003: Acting in Love Actually

In 2003, Liam Neeson played a recently widowed writer in the romantic comedy Love Actually alongside Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, and Laura Linney. The film was a commercial success and has since become a cult classic.

2004: Starring in Kinsey and Hosting Saturday Night Live

In 2004, Liam Neeson portrayed Alfred Kinsey in the biographical drama Kinsey and received a Golden Globe nomination. Also in 2004, he hosted Saturday Night Live, starring in sketches like "Appalachian Emergency Room" and a home makeover show parody.

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2005: Roles in Kingdom of Heaven, Batman Begins, and The Chronicles of Narnia

In 2005, Liam Neeson played Godfrey of Ibelin in Kingdom of Heaven, Ra's al Ghul in Batman Begins, and voiced Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He also voiced a priest in The Simpsons episode "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star".

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2007: Starring in Seraphim Falls and Fallout 3

In 2007, Liam Neeson starred in the American Civil War epic Seraphim Falls and voiced James, the main character's father, in the video game Fallout 3. Michael Bay mentioned taking inspiration from Neeson's body language for Optimus Prime in the 2007 Transformers DVD commentary. He also appeared in the television drama Five Minutes of Heaven.

2008: Release of Taken

In 2008, Liam Neeson starred in the action film Taken, which became a worldwide box-office hit.

2008: Starring in Taken, Narrating Black Holes and Voicing Aslan

In 2008, Liam Neeson starred in the action film Taken, which became a worldwide box-office hit. That year he also narrated the documentary Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity and voiced Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

August 2009: Voice acting in Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea release

In August 2009, Liam Neeson's voice acting was featured in the release of Hayao Miyazaki's anime film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.

March 2010: Release of Chloe

In March 2010, the film Chloe, starring Liam Neeson, was theatrically released by Sony Pictures Classics.

2010: Played Hannibal in The A-Team

In 2010, Liam Neeson played Hannibal in the film adaptation of The A-Team. He agreed to smoke cigars for the role, despite previously quitting smoking.

March 2011: Appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF

In March 2011, Liam Neeson was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.

2011: Appearance in Life's Too Short and Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds

In 2011, Liam Neeson played himself in the BBC2 series Life's Too Short and was cast in Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds, using 3D holography.

2011: Starring in Unknown

In 2011, Liam Neeson starred in the action-thriller Unknown, a German-British-American co-production filmed in Berlin in early 2010 and directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

2012: Starring in The Grey and Taken 2

In 2012, Liam Neeson starred in Joe Carnahan's The Grey, which received positive reviews. He also starred in Taken 2, a sequel to his 2008 blockbuster, and made a cameo appearance as Ra's al Ghul in The Dark Knight Rises.

2012: Planned Role in Lincoln

In 2012, Liam Neeson was slated to star as Abraham Lincoln in the film Lincoln, but he eventually declined the role due to feeling too old.

February 2014: Release of Non-Stop

On February 28, 2014, Liam Neeson starred as Bill Marks in the action film Non-Stop.

2014: Protest Against Anti-Carriage Horse Campaign

In 2014, Liam Neeson protested against the anti-carriage horse campaign of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, arguing in The New York Times that the carriage trade was safe and provided livelihoods for immigrants.

2014: Future collaboration with Collet-Serra

In 2014, Liam Neeson's film Unknown led to a collaboration between Neeson and Collet-Serra (as director and/or producer) on a series of similar action films including Non-Stop, Run All Night, The Commuter and Retribution.

2015: Future collaboration with Collet-Serra

In 2015, Liam Neeson's film Unknown led to a collaboration between Neeson and Collet-Serra (as director and/or producer) on a series of similar action films including Non-Stop, Run All Night, The Commuter and Retribution.

April 2016: Honored with Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award

On April 9, 2016, Liam Neeson received the Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award by the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) in Dublin, presented by Irish President Michael D. Higgins.

2016: Narration of RTÉ One Documentary and Action Film Recognition

In 2016, Liam Neeson narrated the RTÉ One three-part documentary on the Easter Rising, 1916. He became increasingly known as a star of action thriller films, following the success of the Taken films.

2016: Reuniting with Scorsese and Acting in A Monster Calls

In 2016, Liam Neeson reunited with director Martin Scorsese for the drama Silence and did the voice and motion capture for the Monster in the Spanish film A Monster Calls.

2016: Opposition to Brexit

In 2016, Liam Neeson stated his opposition to Brexit, arguing that it would sacrifice progress made by the peace process regarding border controls.

2017: Supports Integrated Education in Northern Ireland

In 2017, Liam Neeson advocated for integrated education in Northern Ireland, urging Catholics and Protestants to learn together.

2017: Portrayal of Mark Felt in Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House

In 2017, Liam Neeson portrayed Mark Felt in Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House, directed by Peter Landesman.

2017: Listed Among Most Influential Philanthropists

In 2017, Liam Neeson was listed as number 74 in Richtopia's list of 200 Most Influential Philanthropists and Social Entrepreneurs Worldwide.

2018: Acting in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and Widows

In 2018, Liam Neeson acted in the Coen brothers' western anthology film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and the Steve McQueen crime thriller Widows acting opposite Viola Davis.

2018: Future collaboration with Collet-Serra

In 2018, Liam Neeson's film Unknown led to a collaboration between Neeson and Collet-Serra (as director and/or producer) on a series of similar action films including Non-Stop, Run All Night, The Commuter and Retribution.

2019: Acting in Ordinary Love

In 2019, Liam Neeson acted in the romantic drama Ordinary Love with Lesley Manville.

2019: Release of Cold Pursuit

In 2019, Liam Neeson starred in the action film Cold Pursuit.

2020: Release of Honest Thief

In 2020, Liam Neeson starred in the action film Honest Thief.

2021: Releases of The Marksman and The Ice Road

In 2021, Liam Neeson starred in the action films The Marksman and The Ice Road.

2022: Appearances in Derry Girls and Atlanta

In 2022, Liam Neeson played Chief Constable Byers in Derry Girls and portrayed a fictional version of himself in Atlanta.

2022: Releases of Blacklight and Memory

In 2022, Liam Neeson starred in the action films Blacklight and Memory.

2023: Future collaboration with Collet-Serra

In 2023, Liam Neeson's film Unknown led to a collaboration between Neeson and Collet-Serra (as director and/or producer) on a series of similar action films including Non-Stop, Run All Night, The Commuter and Retribution.