Editing Liam Neeson (section)

==Career==
===1976–1993: Rise to prominence ===
After leaving university, Neeson returned to Ballymena, where he worked in a variety of casual jobs, such as a [[forklift]] operator at Guinness and a lorry driver.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Independent |first=The |date=2013-01-29 |title=Liam Neeson returns to home town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland {{!}} The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/liam-neeson-returns-to-home-town-of-ballymena-northern-ireland-8471007.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |work=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harte |first=Lauren |date=2022-06-05 |title=Liam Neeson's career to date as actor prepares to turn 70 |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/liam-neeson-ballymena-mans-career-24133469 |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=Belfast Live |language=en}}</ref> He also attended teacher training college for two years in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] before again returning to his hometown. In 1976, he joined the [[Lyric Theatre, Belfast|Lyric Players Theatre]] in [[Belfast]], where he performed for two years. He got his first film experience in 1977, playing [[Jesus Christ]] and The Evangelist in the religious film ''[[The Pilgrim's Progress#Dramatizations, music, and film|Pilgrim's Progress]]'' (1978). He moved to Dublin in 1978 when he was offered a part in Ron Hutchinson's ''Says I, Says He'', a drama about [[The Troubles]], at the [[Project Arts Centre]]. He acted in several other Project productions and joined the [[Abbey Theatre]] (the National Theatre of Ireland).<ref>{{Cite web |title=BFI Screenonline: Neeson, Liam (1952-) Biography |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/490910/ |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> In 1980, he performed with Stephen Rea, Ray McAnally and Mick Lally, playing Doalty in Brian Friel's play ''[[Translations (play)|Translations]]'', the first production of Friel's and Rea's Field Day Theatre Company, first presented in the Guildhall in [[Derry]] on 23 September 1980.<ref>{{cite book |title=Translations |first=B. |last=Friel |year=1981 |location=London |publisher=Faber and Faber |isbn=978-0-57111-742-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/translations00frie_1 }}</ref>

In 1980, filmmaker [[John Boorman]] saw him on stage as Lennie Small in ''[[Of Mice and Men (play)|Of Mice and Men]]'' and offered him the role of [[Sir Gawain]] in the [[King Arthur|Arthurian]] film ''[[Excalibur (film)|Excalibur]]''. After the role, Neeson moved to London, where he continued working on stage, and in small-budget films and television. He lived with actress [[Helen Mirren]], whom he met working on ''Excalibur''.<ref name="elle">{{cite magazine |title=Neeson Easy: Tall, Dark and Phantom |magazine=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]] (UK) |last=McHugh |first=Fionnuala |date=September 1988}}</ref> Between 1982 and 1987, he starred in five films, most notably with [[Mel Gibson]] and [[Anthony Hopkins]] in 1984's ''[[The Bounty (1984 film)|The Bounty]]'' and [[Robert De Niro]] and [[Jeremy Irons]] in 1986's ''[[The Mission (1986 film)|The Mission]]''. Neeson guest-starred in the third season of the television series ''[[Miami Vice]]'' in 1986, and moved to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] the next year to take higher-profile roles.<ref name="elle"/> He starred with [[Cher]] and [[Dennis Quaid]] in ''[[Suspect (1987 film)|Suspect]]'', which brought him critical acclaim. In 1988, he appeared with Clint Eastwood in the fifth [[Dirty Harry (film series)|Dirty Harry]] film, ''[[The Dead Pool]]'', as Peter Swan, a horror film director. In 1990, he had a starring role in [[Sam Raimi]]'s ''[[Darkman]]''. Although the film was successful, Neeson's subsequent years did not bring him the same recognition. He also starred in the eponymous role for the film ''[[Ethan Frome (film)|Ethan Frome]]'' (1993).

===1993–2000: Breakthrough and acclaim ===
[[Steven Spielberg]] offered Neeson the role of [[Oskar Schindler]] in his [[the Holocaust|holocaust]] film ''[[Schindler's List]]''<ref>{{cite news |title=Liam Neeson |newspaper=[[Newsday]] |last=de Vries |first=Hilary |date=3 July 1993}}</ref> after seeing him in ''[[Anna Christie]]'' on Broadway. [[Kevin Costner]], [[Mel Gibson]] and [[Warren Beatty]] all expressed interest in the part<ref name=inside>{{cite web |first=Susan |last=Royal |title=An Interview with Steven Spielberg |website=Inside Film Magazine Online |url=http://www.insidefilm.com/spielberg.html |access-date=29 October 2008 |archive-date=24 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024060256/http://www.insidefilm.com/spielberg.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=makinghistory>{{cite magazine |title=Spielberg and 'Schindler's List': How it came together |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Anne |last=Thompson |date=21 January 1994 |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/01/21/spielberg-and-schindlers-list-how-it-came-together/ |access-date=8 August 2007 |archive-date=15 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015004920/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300806,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> (Beatty even auditioned),<ref name="inside"/> but Neeson was cast in December 1992 after auditioning for the role.<ref name=makinghistory/> He read the Keneally book and concluded that his character "enjoyed fookin'{{sic}} with the Nazis. In Keneally's book, it says he was regarded as a kind of a buffoon by them... if the Nazis were New Yorkers, he was from [[Arkansas]]. They don't quite take him seriously, and he used that to full effect."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Liam Neeson joins the A-List after 'Schindler's List' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=21 January 1994 |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/01/21/liam-neeson-joins-list-after-schindlers-list/ |access-date=8 August 2007 |archive-date=15 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015004925/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300807_2,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His critically acclaimed performance earned him a nomination for a [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] Oscar, and helped the film earn [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] of 1993. He also received [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] and [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globes]] nominations for the performance. 

In 1993, Neeson made his [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut playing Mat Burke in the revival of the [[Eugene O'Neill]] play ''[[Anna Christie]]'' starring opposite his ''Ellis Island'' co-star and future wife [[Natasha Richardson]]. For his performance he was nominated for the [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.playbill.com/production/anna-christie-criterion-center-stage-right-vault-0000003832|title= Anna Christie (Broadway, 1993)|website= Playbill|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> The following year they also worked together in ''[[Nell (film)|Nell]]'' (1994) starring [[Jodie Foster]]. He then took leading roles in the [[period piece]] drama films including playing the lead role of [[Rob Roy MacGregor]] in the historical drama  ''[[Rob Roy (1995 film)|Rob Roy]]'' (1995) opposite [[Jessica Lange]], [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]], and [[Tim Roth]]. Critic [[Roger Ebert]] of ''[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]'' praised his ability to be a [[leading man]] writing, "Neeson, tall and grand, makes an effortless hero as ''Rob Roy''".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rob-roy-1995|title= Rob Roy movie review|website= [[Roger Ebert|Rogerebert.com]]|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> 

The following year he acted in [[Neil Jordan]]'s historical drama ''[[Michael Collins (film)|Michael Collins]]'' (1996) alongside [[Julia Roberts]], and [[Alan Rickman]]. Neeson portrayed the [[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|title role]] as the Irish revolutionary leading the fight for Irish independence. The film premiered at the [[Venice Film Festival]] where it received the [[Golden Lion]] with Neeson earning the [[Volpi Cup for Best Actor]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The awards of the Venice Film Festival |url=http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/history/awards1.html?back=true |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214222519/http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/history/awards1.html?back=true |archive-date=14 February 2017 |access-date=2024-03-21 |publisher=Labiennale.org}}</ref> He later earning nominations for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Golden Globe Nominations|url=https://variety.com/1996/scene/vpage/golden-globe-nominations-2-1117436552/|access-date=21 March 2024|work=Variety|date=19 December 1996}}</ref> Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised his performance writing, "Neeson is a compulsive dynamo as Collins, with the actor seizing his part with a passion and boldness utterly in keeping with the character’s approach to life and his cause".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/michael-collins-1200446989/|title= Michael Collins review|website= March 21, 2024|date= 3 September 1996}}</ref>

Neeson portrayed [[Jean Valjean]] in the 1998 adaptation of [[Victor Hugo]]'s ''[[Les Misérables (1998 film)|Les Misérables]]'' directed by [[Bille August]]. He starred alongside [[Uma Thurman]], [[Geoffrey Rush]], and [[Claire Danes]]. Writing of Neeson's performance, [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "[He] plays the role with the sure physical authority and profound decency that are fundamental to Valjean's character" adding, "With a first-rate cast and a venerable storytelling style, it fluently condenses Victor Hugo's epic novel and retrieves some of its suspenseful momentum."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/050198lesmis-film-review.html|title= 'Les Miserables': A Cat-And-Mouse Game Amid Epic Turbulence|website= [[The New York Times]]|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> That same year he returned to the stage in the [[David Hare (playwright)|David Hare]] play ''[[The Judas Kiss (play)|The Judas Kiss]]'' (1998) portraying [[Oscar Wilde]] which ran at both the [[Almeida Theatre]] in the [[West End (theatre)|West End]] and the [[Broadhurst Theatre]] on [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/88209-the-judas-kiss-at-playhouse-theatre-1998|title= The Judas Kiss at The Almeida Theatre|website= Abouttheartists|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> He acted alongside [[Tom Hollander]] and [[Peter Capaldi]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.playbill.com/production/the-judas-kiss-broadhurst-theatre-vault-0000002000|title= The Judas Kiss (Broadway, 1998)|website= Playbill|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> In 1999 he acted in the [[supernatural horror]] film ''[[The Haunting (1999 film)|The Haunting]]'' (1999) opposite [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]].

===1999–2007: Blockbuster roles ===
[[File:Wax Museum Plus (6344782431).jpg|thumb|left|Wax figures of Neeson as [[Qui-Gon Jinn]] fighting [[Darth Maul]] in ''[[Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menance]]'']]
In 1999, Neeson starred as [[Jedi|Jedi Master]] [[Qui-Gon Jinn]] in ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace]]''. Director [[George Lucas]] cast Neeson because he considered him a "master actor, who the other actors will look up to, who has got the qualities of strength that the character demands."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-i/bts/production/f19990501/indexp4.html |title=Star Wars Episode I: Production Notes |date=1 May 1999 |website=LucasFilm |access-date=8 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041023023458/http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/bts/production/f19990501/indexp4.html |archive-date=23 October 2004}}</ref> As the first ''[[Star Wars]]'' film to be released in 16 years, it was surrounded by media anticipation. Neeson's connection to ''Star Wars'' started in the [[Crown Liquor Saloon|Crown Bar]], [[Belfast]]. He told [[Ricki Lake]], "I probably wouldn't have taken the role if it wasn't for the advice of Peter King in the Crown during a Lyric reunion."{{Clarify |date=December 2012}} Despite mixed reviews from critics and fans,<ref>{{cite web |title=Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=19 May 1999 |publisher=[[Flixster]] |url=https://rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_i_the_phantom_menace/ |access-date=14 February 2012 |archive-date=15 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515010020/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_i_the_phantom_menace/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the film was a box office success.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world |title=All Time Worldwide Box Office Grosses |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=12 March 2009 |archive-date=27 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427204903/http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Neeson's performance as Qui-Gon received positive reviews<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,64044,00.html |title=Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |date=21 May 1999 |access-date=29 March 2009 |archive-date=5 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305071346/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,64044,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=7324 |title=Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace |last=Kennedy |first=Colin |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-date=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021041751/http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=7324 |url-status=live }}</ref> and a [[Saturn Award]] nomination. A stock recording of his voice from ''The Phantom Menace'' can be heard during a scene in ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones]]'' (2002).<ref name=tor>{{cite web |url=http://www.tor.com/2011/01/26/the-real-qui-gon-jinn-returns/ |title=The Real Qui-Gon Jinn Returns! |date=26 January 2011 |website=Tor.com |access-date=8 April 2016 |archive-date=29 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329093402/http://www.tor.com/2011/01/26/the-real-qui-gon-jinn-returns/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Neeson was later reported to be appearing in ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith]]'' (2005),<ref name="USA Today">{{cite news |last=Keck |first=William |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-01-09-palm-springs_x.htm |title=Movie-star night in Palm Springs |newspaper=USA Today |date=10 January 2005 |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-date=20 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420233707/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-01-09-palm-springs_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> but ultimately did not. In the animated television series ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' (2008–20), he voiced Qui-Gon in two episodes of the third season and one episode of the sixth season,<ref name="tor"/> and he also made a voice cameo as Qui-Gon in ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker]]'' (2019).<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-cameos-who-were-the-jedi-voices-jodie-comer-reys-mom|title=25 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Cameos You Might Have Missed|last1=Breznican|first1=Anthony|date=20 December 2019|magazine=Vanity Fair|last2=Robinson|first2=Joanna|access-date=3 January 2020|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201234554/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-cameos-who-were-the-jedi-voices-jodie-comer-reys-mom|url-status=live}}</ref> Neeson appeared as Qui-Gon in the final episode of ''[[Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV series)|Obi-Wan Kenobi]]'' (2022), appearing as a force ghost to [[Obi-Wan Kenobi|Obi-Wan]], in an uncredited cameo, marking his first live-action portrayal of Qui-Gon since ''The Phantom Menace.'' He later voiced Qui-Gon again for an episode of the animated ''[[Tales of the Jedi (TV series)|Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi]]'' (2022).

Neeson narrated the 2001 documentaries ''Journey into Amazing Caves'', a short film about two scientists who travel around the world to search for material for potential cures; and ''The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Adventure''. The latter won awards at a number of film festivals including Best Documentary from both the [[Chicago Film Critics Association]] and the [[National Board of Review]]. Neeson returned to Broadway in the revival of the [[Arthur Miller]] play ''[[The Crucible]]'' acting opposite [[Laura Linney]]. For his performance as John Proctor he received a nomination for the [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.playbill.com/production/the-crucible-virginia-theatre-vault-0000005231|title= The Crucible (Broadway, 2002)|website= Playbill|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> [[Charles Isherwood]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised Neeson writing, "In his thoughtful performance as Proctor, the effortlessly charismatic Neeson subtly delineates a man’s moral evolution as Proctor moves from casual scorn for the proceedings to outrage to soul-stricken despair" adding, "Perhaps the finest aspect of Neeson’s performance is its admirable restraint".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2002/legit/reviews/the-crucible-4-1200550987/|title= The Crucible|website= Variety|date= 8 March 2002|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> That same year Neeson acted with [[Harrison Ford]] in [[Kathryn Bigelow]]'s 2002 submarine thriller ''[[K-19: The Widowmaker]]'' as Captain Mikhail Polenin. He was also on the cast of [[Martin Scorsese]]'s historical drama ''[[Gangs of New York]]'' with [[Daniel Day-Lewis]], [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], and [[Cameron Diaz]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://collider.com/gangs-of-new-york-opening-scorsese/|title= 'Gangs of New York's Opening Sequence Is Scorsese at His Finest|website= Collider|date= 10 January 2023|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref>

In 2003, he played a recently widowed writer in [[Richard Curtis]]'s romantic comedy ensemble ''[[Love Actually]]'' (2003) acting alongside [[Hugh Grant]], [[Colin Firth]], [[Emma Thompson]], [[Alan Rickman]], and [[Laura Linney]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/11/13/liam_neeson_love_actually_interview.shtml |title=Liam Neeson Love Actually interview |website=BBC |access-date=18 April 2007 |last=Lee |first=Alana |date=13 November 2003 |archive-date=3 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503045617/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/11/13/liam_neeson_love_actually_interview.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was a commercial success and has since become a [[cult classic]] and holiday favorite.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://people.com/movies/love-actually-movie-trivia/|title= 23 Things You Never Knew About 'Love Actually'|website= March 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/lists/best-christmas-movies/about-a-boy-2002-2/|title= The 45 Best Christmas Movies of All Time|website= Variety|date= 17 November 2023|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3798042113/|title= Love Actually|website= Boxofficemojo|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> The following year he portrayed [[Alfred Kinsey]] in the biographical drama ''[[Kinsey (film)|Kinsey]]'' reuniting with [[Laura Linney]] and [[Peter Sarsgaard]] and [[John Lithgow]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kinsey|title= Kinsey|website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> Neeson received a nomination for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama]] losing to Leonardo DiCaprio for ''[[The Aviator (2004 film)|The Aviator]]'' (2004).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/movieawards/goldenglobes/2004-12-13-nominee-list_x.htm|title= 2004 Golden Globe Awards|website= [[USA Today]]|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> That year Neeson hosted an episode of the [[NBC]] sketch show ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. He starred as a [[Redneck (stereotype)|redneck]] trucker, Marlon Weaver, in an "[[Appalachian Emergency Room]]" sketch and as a hippie in a one-off sketch about two [[wikt:stoner|stoners]] (the other played by [[Amy Poehler]]) who attempt to borrow a police dog to find their lost stash of marijuana. Despite vowing not to play any Irish [[wikt:stereotype|stereotypes]], Neeson did play an Irish man named Lorcan McArdle in the home makeover show parody "You Call This A House, Do Ya?"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://snltranscripts.jt.org/04/04ehouse.phtml |title=Liam Neeson: 13 November 2004: You Call This A House, Do Ya? |website=SNL Transcripts |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-date=16 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716043925/http://snltranscripts.jt.org/04/04ehouse.phtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Neesonandfiennes.jpg|thumb|right|Neeson (left) and [[Ralph Fiennes]] at a [[U2]] concert in [[Madison Square Garden]], October 2005]]

In 2005, Neeson took multiple roles in mainstream blockbuster films. He portrayed [[Barisan of Ibelin|Godfrey of Ibelin]] in [[Ridley Scott]]'s epic adventure ''[[Kingdom of Heaven (film)|Kingdom of Heaven]]'', [[Ra's al Ghul]], one of the main villains in [[Christopher Nolan]]'s action film ''[[Batman Begins]]'';<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_begins|title= Batman Begins|website= Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> and Father Bernard in [[Neil Jordan]]'s [[Breakfast on Pluto (film)|adaptation]] of [[Patrick McCabe (novelist)|Patrick McCabe]]'s novel ''[[Breakfast on Pluto]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1153341-breakfast_on_pluto|title= Rotten Tomatoes|website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> That same year he replaced [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]] playing [[Aslan|Aslan the Lion]] in the fantasy adventure film ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'' (2005), an adaptation of the [[C. S. Lewis]] [[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe|book of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://movieweb.com/liam-neeson-to-voice-aslan-the-lion-in-the-chronicles-of-narnia/|title= Liam Neeson to Voice Aslan the Lion in The Chronicles of Narnia|website= MovieWeb|date= 18 July 2005|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Liam Neeson Will Voice Aslan |website=NarniaWeb |date=15 July 2005 |url=http://www.narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=326&dl=3483310 |access-date=13 January 2007 |archive-date=23 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823025418/http://www.narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=326&dl=3483310 |url-status=live }}</ref> In ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star]]" (2005), he voiced the kindly priest who (briefly) converts [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] and [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] to Catholicism.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,735559,00.html |title=What's coming up on "The Simpsons" |first=Brian |last=Hiatt |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=18 April 2007 |date=5 November 2004 |archive-date=8 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608234120/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,735559,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2007, he starred in the [[American Civil War]] epic ''[[Seraphim Falls]]''. Neeson voiced the main character's father, James, in the video game ''[[Fallout 3]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title='Fallout 3' recruits Neeson |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fallout-3-recruits-neeson-135737 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=8 May 2007 |last=Gaudiosi |first=John |date=8 May 2007 |archive-date=25 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025195843/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fallout-3-recruits-neeson-135737 |url-status=live }}</ref> Executive producer [[Todd Howard (video game designer)|Todd Howard]] said, "This role was written with Liam in mind, and provides the dramatic tone for the entire game".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a46344/liam-neeson-to-lead-fallout-3.html |title=Liam Neeson to lead 'Fallout 3' |website=Digital Spy |access-date=9 May 2007 |last=Gibbon |first=David |date=9 May 2007 |archive-date=17 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517183939/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a46344/liam-neeson-to-lead-fallout-3.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Fallout 3'', the third game in the [[Fallout series]], was extremely well received by critics and shipped 4.7&nbsp;million copies by the end of 2008, the year it was released.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jimmy |last=Thang |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/941/941189p1.html |title=Fallout 3 Expanding to More Markets |website=IGN |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-date=19 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119202853/http://pc.ign.com/articles/941/941189p1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the director's commentary of the 2007 ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' DVD, [[Michael Bay]] said he had told the animators to seek inspiration from Neeson in creating [[Optimus Prime (other incarnations)#The Transformers|Optimus Prime]]'s [[body language]]. Neeson appeared as Alistair Little in the [[BBC Northern Ireland]]/Big Fish Films television drama ''[[Five Minutes of Heaven]]'', which tells the true story of a young Protestant man convicted of murdering a Catholic boy during [[The Troubles]].<ref name="5mins">{{Cite news |first=Leigh |last=Holmwood |title=Nesbitt and Neeson set for Ulster drama |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/may/08/bbc.television |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=8 May 2008 |access-date=8 May 2008 |archive-date=20 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020120637/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/may/08/bbc.television |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2008–present: Action stardom ===
[[File:Liam Neeson Deauville 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Neeson at the Deauville American Film Festival in 2012.]]
In 2008, Neeson starred in the action film ''[[Taken (film)|Taken]]'', a French-produced film also starring [[Famke Janssen]] and [[Maggie Grace]], based on a script by [[Luc Besson]] and [[Robert Mark Kamen]] and directed by [[Pierre Morel]]. Neeson plays a retired [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative from the elite [[Special Activities Division]] who sets about tracking down his teenage daughter after she is kidnapped. ''Taken'' was a worldwide box-office hit, grossing $223.9&nbsp;million worldwide, making almost $200&nbsp;million more than its production budget. Neeson has said in interviews that he believed that ''Taken'' had put some people off the idea of actually travelling to Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/liam-neeson-interview-taken-2-graham-norton-show |first=Eleanore |last=Hutch |website=Evoke.ie |title=Kidnap epic Taken has put people off travelling to Europe, says Liam Neeson |date=30 December 2014 |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107064206/http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/liam-neeson-interview-taken-2-graham-norton-show/ |archive-date=7 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Taken'' brought Neeson back into the centre of the public eye and resulted in his being cast in many more big-budget Hollywood movies. That year he also narrated the documentary ''Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity'' and again lent his voice to Aslan in ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian]]'' (2008).<ref name="Gresham exclusive to fans">{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Paul |title=Exclusive Prince Caspian Updates with Douglas Gresham |website=NarniaFans |date=4 December 2006 |url=http://www.narniafans.com/?id=1013 |access-date=5 December 2006 |archive-date=15 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215071016/http://www.narniafans.com/?id=1013 |url-status=live }}</ref> He also provided a voice for [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s anime film ''[[Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea]]'', which received an August 2009 release.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/27/hayaomiyazaki |title=English-language cast announced for Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=30 November 2008 |date=27 November 2008 |first=Ben |last=Child |archive-date=30 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930144632/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/27/hayaomiyazaki |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2010, Neeson played [[Zeus]] in [[Clash of the Titans (2010 film)|the remake]] of the 1981 film, ''[[Clash of the Titans (1981 film)|Clash of the Titans]]''. The film was a huge box-office hit, grossing $475&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=clashofthetitans10.htm |title=Clash of the Titans (2010) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=21 June 2010 |archive-date=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618211401/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=clashofthetitans10.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Neeson also starred in [[Atom Egoyan]]'s erotic thriller ''[[Chloe (2009 film)|Chloe]]'', theatrically released by [[Sony Pictures Classics]] on 26 March 2010. ''Chloe'' had enjoyed commercial success and became the Canadian director's biggest money maker ever.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/901059--the-digital-revolution-film |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |first=Geoff |last=Pevere |title=The Digital Revolution: Part 1 |date=7 December 2010 |access-date=3 September 2017 |archive-date=29 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229043606/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2010/12/07/the_digital_revolution_part_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Later the same year, he played [[John "Hannibal" Smith]] in the [[The A-Team (film)|spin-off movie]] from the television series ''[[The A-Team]]''.<ref name="Chris Hewitt">{{cite magazine |url=https://empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=25013 |title=Neeson And Cooper Are The A-Team |first=Chris |last=Hewitt |magazine=Empire |date=9 June 2009 |access-date=9 June 2009 |archive-date=25 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325032009/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=25013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Cooper in A-Team film?">{{cite web |title=Cooper in A-Team film? |url=http://www.teletext.co.uk/bigscreen/news/874ad1990654eebb77fdb6d8d4e2281a/Cooper+in+A-Team+film.aspx |website=Teletext |access-date=11 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909045411/http://www.teletext.co.uk/bigscreen/news/874ad1990654eebb77fdb6d8d4e2281a/Cooper%2Bin%2BA-Team%2Bfilm.aspx |archive-date= 9 September 2009 }}</ref> Neeson voiced Aslan once more in the 2010 sequel ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader]]''. That same year he made a guest-star appearance on the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] series ''[[The Big C (TV series)|The Big C]]'' with [[Laura Linney]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvguide.com/News/Liam-Neeson-Big-C-1020990.aspx |title=Liam Neeson to Appear on The Big C |first=Joyce |last=Eng |date=26 July 2010 |magazine=TV Guide |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-date=20 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220111203/http://www.tvguide.com/news/liam-neeson-big-c-1020990.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011, Neeson starred in the action-thriller ''[[Unknown (2011 film)|Unknown]]'', a German-British-American co-production of a French book filmed in Berlin in early 2010, and directed by [[Jaume Collet-Serra]].  This film led to a collaboration between Neeson and Collet-Serra (as director and/or producer) on a series of similar action films including ''[[Non-Stop (film)|Non-Stop]]'' (2014), ''[[Run All Night (film)|Run All Night]]'' (2015), ''[[The Commuter (film)|The Commuter]]'' (2018) and ''[[Retribution (2023 film)|Retribution]]'' (2023). Neeson reunited with Steven Spielberg with plans to star as [[Abraham Lincoln]] in the 2012 film ''[[Lincoln (film)|Lincoln]]'', based on the book ''[[Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln|Team of Rivals]]'' by [[Doris Kearns Goodwin]].<ref name="abelincoln-varit">{{Cite magazine |last=Fleming |first=Michael |title=Lincoln logs in at DreamWorks: Spielberg, Neeson eye Abe pic |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=11 January 2005 |url=https://variety.com/2005/film/features/lincoln-logs-in-at-dreamworks-1117916168/ |access-date=24 January 2007 |archive-date=10 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010045818/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117916168.html?categoryid=1238&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> In preparation for the role, Neeson visited the District of Columbia and [[Springfield, Illinois]], where Lincoln lived before being elected, and read Lincoln's personal letters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=18545 |title=Liam Neeson Talks Lincoln |website=ComingSoon.net |access-date=2 May 2007 |last=Evry |first=Max |date=24 January 2007 |archive-date=30 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630231905/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=18545 |url-status=live }}</ref> Neeson eventually declined the role, claiming he was "past his sell date" and had grown too old for the role and was replaced by [[Daniel Day-Lewis]] (who won his third [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for playing Lincoln).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a253207/neeson-quits-spielbergs-lincoln-biopic.html |title=Neeson quits Spielberg's Lincoln biopic |website=[[Digital Spy]] |date=30 July 2010 |access-date=4 October 2012 |archive-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128113556/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a253207/neeson-quits-spielbergs-lincoln-biopic.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Festival Deauville 2012 - Jour 8.jpg|thumb|right|Liam Neeson, [[Deauville American Film Festival|Deauville Film Festival]], 2012]]
In 2011, he played himself in BBC2's series ''[[Life's Too Short (TV series)|Life's Too Short]]'' starring [[Ricky Gervais]], [[Stephen Merchant]] and [[Warwick Davis]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lifes-too-short-seres-premiere-liam-neeson-video_n_1288644|title= 'Life's Too Short' Series Premiere: Liam Neeson Tries His Hand At Improv Comedy (VIDEO)|website= HuffPost|date= 20 February 2012|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> In late 2011, Neeson was cast to play the lead character, a journalist, in a new album recording and arena production of ''[[Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds#The New Generation|Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds]]''. He replaced [[Richard Burton]], who had posthumously appeared in the arena production through [[computer generated imagery|CGI animation]]. Neeson did not physically appear on the stage, instead playing the role through the use of 3D [[holography]]. In 2012, Neeson starred in [[Joe Carnahan]]'s ''[[The Grey (film)|The Grey]]''. The film received mostly positive reviews and Neeson's performance received critical acclaim. He also starred in ''[[Taken 2]]'' (2012), a successful sequel to his 2008 blockbuster.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/luc-bessons-europacorp-reports-strong-419600 |title=Luc Besson's EuropaCorp Reports Strong Growth in Third Quarter Results |access-date=26 April 2013 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2 February 2013 |archive-date=6 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506125358/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/luc-bessons-europacorp-reports-strong-419600 |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, he reprised the role of Ra's al Ghul in a cameo appearance in ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' (2012), the final film in [[Christopher Nolan]]'s ''[[The Dark Knight Trilogy]]''. Dialogue from his role as Ra's al Ghul in ''Batman Begins'' was featured in the first trailer for the film.

Neeson had a supporting role as the henchman Bad Cop/Good Cop in the animated film ''[[The Lego Movie]]'', which was a critical and commercial success. Neeson later played Bill Marks in the 2014 action film ''Non-Stop''. The film was released on 28 February 2014. He also appeared, uncredited, as God in the [[BBC2]] series ''[[Rev. (TV series)|Rev.]]''. Neeson stars in the 2014 film ''[[A Walk Among the Tombstones (film)|A Walk Among the Tombstones]]'', an adaption of the best-selling [[A Walk Among the Tombstones (novel)|novel of the same name]], in which he plays former cop Matthew Scudder, a detective hired to hunt the killers of a drug dealer's wife. During [[Super Bowl XLIX]], [[Supercell (video game company)|Supercell]] did a ''[[Clash of Clans]]'' commercial with Neeson playing the game as "AngryNeeson52" and vowing revenge on his opponent "BigBuffetBoy85" while waiting for his scone at a bakery.<ref>{{cite news |last=Frankel |first=Todd C. |title=With Kate Upton and Liam Neeson ads, mobile gaming has its Super Bowl moment |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2 February 2015 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2015/02/02/with-kate-upton-and-liam-neeson-ads-mobile-gaming-has-its-super-bowl-moment/ |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204023206/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2015/02/02/with-kate-upton-and-liam-neeson-ads-mobile-gaming-has-its-super-bowl-moment/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The appearance was a parody of his role in ''Taken''. In 2016, Neeson narrated the [[RTÉ One]] three-part documentary on the [[Easter Rising]], ''1916''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iftn.ie/distribution/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4289076&tpl=archnews&force=1 |title=RTÉ secures multiple international deals for Liam Neeson narrated '1916' documentary |date=10 March 2016 |first=Seán |last=Brosnan |work=Irish Film & Television Network |access-date=8 April 2016 |archive-date=15 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415050856/http://iftn.ie/distribution/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4289076&tpl=archnews&force=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the success of the ''Taken'' films, Neeson has become increasingly known as a star of [[action thriller film]]s.<ref>{{cite news|title=Is Liam Neeson Really Quitting Action Movies? What The Blacklight Actor Has To Say|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/is-liam-neeson-really-quitting-action-movies-what-the-blacklight-actor-has-to-say|work=Cinemablend|date=12 February 2022|access-date=12 February 2022|archive-date=13 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213002630/https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/is-liam-neeson-really-quitting-action-movies-what-the-blacklight-actor-has-to-say|url-status=live}}</ref>  Besides ''The A-Team'', ''Unknown'', ''The Grey'', ''Non-Stop'', ''A Walk Among the Tombstones'', ''Run All Night'', ''The Commuter'' and Retribution, other recent action films starring Neeson have included ''[[Cold Pursuit]]'' (2019), ''[[Honest Thief]]'' (2020), ''[[The Marksman (2021 film)|The Marksman]]'' (2021), ''[[The Ice Road]]'' (2021), ''[[Blacklight (film)|Blacklight]]'' (2022), ''[[Memory (2022 film)|Memory]]'' (2022), ''[[In the Land of Saints and Sinners]]'' (2024) and ''[[Absolution (2024 film)|Absolution]]'' (2024).  Neeson has indicated a desire to retire from the action genre though the films have taken his acting career in a new direction.

In 2016, Neeson reunited with director [[Martin Scorsese]] with the drama [[Silence (2016 film)|an adaptation of the novel ''Silence'']] starring alongside [[Andrew Garfield]] and [[Adam Driver]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/liam-neeson-silence-movie-martin-scorsese-674801/ |title=Liam Neeson Set To Star in Martin Scorsese's 'Silence' |access-date=31 January 2014 |website=Deadline |date=31 January 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201004724/http://www.deadline.com/2014/01/liam-neeson-silence-movie-martin-scorsese/ |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, he did the voice and [[motion capture]] for the Monster in the Spanish film ''[[A Monster Calls (film)|A Monster Calls]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |title=Cannes: Liam Neeson Joins 'A Monster Calls' |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-liam-neeson-joins-a-702270 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=8 May 2014 |access-date=31 October 2016 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203002217/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-liam-neeson-joins-a-702270 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018 he acted in the [[Coen brothers]]' western anthology film ''[[The Ballad of Buster Scruggs]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://ew.com/movies/2018/11/27/ballad-of-buster-scruggs-endings/|title= The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: 14 things you might have missed|magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> and the [[Steve McQueen (director)|Steve McQueen]] crime thriller ''[[Widows (2018 film)|Widows]]'' acting opposite [[Viola Davis]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2018/11/15/666943653/a-heist-and-a-whole-lot-more-as-viola-davis-delivers-in-widows|title= A Heist, And A Whole Lot More, As Viola Davis Delivers In 'Widows'|website= NPR|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> He portrayed [[Mark Felt]] in ''[[Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House]]'' (2017) directed by [[Peter Landesman]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2017/film/news/liam-neeson-watergate-mark-felt-1202574490/|title= Liam Neeson Says He's 'Unretired' From Action Movies at the 'Mark Felt' Premiere|website= Variety|date= 27 September 2017|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> and [[Philip Marlowe]] in ''[[Marlowe (2022 film)|Marlowe]]'' (2022) directed by [[Neil Jordan]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/marlowe-movie-review-2023|title= Marlowe|website= Rogerebert.com|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> He acted in the romantic drama ''[[Ordinary Love (film)|Ordinary Love]]'' (2019) with [[Lesley Manville]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ordinary_love|title= Ordinary Love|website= Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> and the biographical drama ''[[Wildcat (2023 film)|Wildcat]]'' starring [[Maya Hawke]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/wildcat-review-maya-hawke-flannery-oconnor-1235710667/|title= 'Wildcat' Review: Maya Hawke Embodies Not Just Flannery O'Connor but the Spirit of Her Characters|website= Variety|date= 2 September 2023|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref> On television he played Chief Constable Byers	 in ''[[Derry Girls]]'' (2022), and portrayed a fictional version of himself in ''[[Atlanta (TV series)|Atlanta]]'' (2022).<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/12/liam-neeson-makes-surprise-appearance-in-new-series-of-derry-girls|title= Liam Neeson makes surprise cameo in new series of Derry Girls|website= The Guardian|date= 12 April 2022|accessdate= March 21, 2024|last1= Ambrose|first1= Tom}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/donald-glover-liam-neeson-atlanta-racism-backlash-1235573824/|title= Donald Glover Had Jordan Peele Convince Liam Neeson to Poke Fun at 2019 Racism Controversy on 'Atlanta': 'Liam Poured His Heart Out'|website= Variety|date= 4 April 2023|accessdate= March 21, 2024}}</ref>