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Liam Neeson

Acting

Born June 7, 1952 · Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Also known as Lijam Nison · William John Neeson · William John Neeson OBE

Biography

William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an Irish actor. He was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and educated at Saint Patrick's College, Ballymena Technical College and Queen's University Belfast. He moved to Dublin after university to further his acting career, joining the renowned Abbey Theatre. In the early 1990s, he moved again to the United States, where the wide acclaim for his performance in Schindler's List led to more high-profile work. He is widowed and lives in New York with his two sons. He has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards. He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Peyton Westlake in Darkman, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Alfred Kinsey in Kinsey, Ras Al Ghul in Batman Begins and the voice of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia film series. He has also starred in several other notable films, from major Hollywood studio releases (ie. Excalibur, The Dead Pool, Nell, Rob Roy, The Haunting, Love Actually, Kingdom of Heaven, Taken, Clash of the Titans, The A-Team, Unknown) to smaller arthouse films (ie. Deception, Breakfast on Pluto, Chloe).

Awards & recognition

  • Los Angeles Film Critics Association AwardBest Actor · 2004
  • Officer of the Order of the British Empire · 1999
  • honorary master's degree · 1996
  • Volpi CupBest Actor · 1996
  • Theatre World Award · 1993
Show all 21 awards →
  • Drama League Award
  • Order of the British Empire
  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award · 2012 · nominated
  • European Film Award – People's Choice AwardBest European Film · 2011 · nominated
  • Independent Spirit AwardBest Male Lead · 2005 · nominated
  • Satellite AwardBest Actor – Motion Picture · 2005 · nominated
  • Golden Globe AwardBest Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 2004 · nominated
  • Phoenix Film Critics Society AwardBest Cast · 2004 · nominated
  • Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Actor in a Play · 2002 · nominated
  • Tony AwardBest Actor in a Play · 2002 · nominated
  • MTV Movie AwardBest Fight · 2000 · nominated
  • Golden Globe AwardBest Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1996 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Actor · 1994 · nominated
  • BAFTA AwardBest Actor in a Leading Role · 1994 · nominated
  • Golden Globe AwardBest Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1993 · nominated
  • Tony AwardBest Actor in a Play · 1993 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Schindler's List

1993as Oskar Schindler

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

2008as Qui-Gon Jinn (voice)

Derry Girls

2018as Chief Inspector Byers

Conan O'Brien Must Go

2024as Bryan Mills (archive footage) (uncredited)

Atlanta

2016as Liam Neeson

The Simpsons

1989as Father Sean (voice)

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi

2022as Qui-Gon Jinn (voice)

Nature

1982as Narrator (voice)

The Dark Knight Rises

2012as Ra's Al Ghul

Benjamin Franklin

2022as Alexander Wedderburn / Ambassador Lord Stormont (voice)

Batman Begins

2005as Ducard

Liberty's Kids

2002as John Paul Jones (voice)

Spielberg

2017as Self - Segment "Schindler's List"

The Orville

2017as Jahavus Dorahl

The Secret Policeman's Ball

2012as Self

A Woman of Substance

1984as Blackie O'Neill

Miami Vice

1984as Sean Carroon

The Lego Movie

2014as Bad Cop / Good Cop / Pa Cop (voice)

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet

2014as Mustafa (voice)

Taken

2008as Bryan Mills

Family Guy

1999as Liam Neeson (voice)

The Mission

1986as Father John Fielding

Pilgrim's Progress

1978as Evangelist / Mr. Goodwill / Mr. Interpreter / Jesus Christ

A Monster Calls

2016as The Monster (voice)

Gangs of New York

2002as 'Priest' Vallon

If Tomorrow Comes

1986as André Trignant

Life's Too Short

2011as Liam Neeson

Conan

2010as Self

The Graham Norton Show

2007as Self

Breakfast on Pluto

2005as Father Liam

Les Misérables

1998as Jean Valjean

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

2018as Impresario (segment "Meal Ticket")

Silence

2016as Ferreira

Road

2014as Narrator (voice)

The Next Three Days

2010as Damon

Kingdom of Heaven

2005as Godfrey de Ibelin

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

2005as Aslan (voice)

Love Actually

2003as Daniel

Obi-Wan Kenobi

2022as Qui-Gon Jinn (uncredited)

The Last Laugh

2016as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Girl Rising

2013as Narrator (voice)

The Wildest Dream

2010as Narrator

The Endurance

2000as Narrator (voice)

Out of Ireland

1995as William Murphy (voice)

Husbands and Wives

1992as Michael Gates

Excalibur

1981as Gawain

Michael Collins

1996as Michael Collins

Saturday Night Live

1975as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

Cold Storage

2026as Robert Quinn

Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return

2022as Self - Qui-Gon Jinn