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Liam Neeson (June 7, 1952), born William John Neeson in Ballymena Northern Ireland, is a British stage and film actor. Neeson was raised Roman Catholic in a predominantly Protestant town and felt like an outsider in his own town. In his youth, he took boxing lessons at the All Saints Youth Club but quit after suffering a blackout during a match. Neeson later attended Queen's College in Belfast with the intention of becoming a teacher. He majored in physics, computer science, math and drama but ultimately left college to pursue a career in acting. In 1976, he joined Belfast's Lyric Plays Theatre and later performed at Dublin's Abbey Theatre in a production of Brian Friel's Translations. He also appeared in Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars for the Royal Exchange Theater where he received the Best Actor Award. He was discovered in Dublin by director John Boorman who cast him in Excalibur as Gawain.
Neeson followed up with roles in Krull, The Bounty, and the TV movies Arthur the King and If Tomorrow Comes. He starred in several TV movies, films, and TV guest roles. His first significant starring role came in the 1990 film, Darkman. The film was not a success but more significant roles followed in The Big Man and Under Suspicion. In 1992 he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the Broadway play Anna Christie opposite future wife Natasha Richardson. His performance drew attention from Steven Spielberg who cast him in Schindler's List. Neeson was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the Holocaust film.
Following his Oscar-nominated performance he appeared in several high profile films including Nell, Rob Roy, and Before and After opposite Meryl Streep. In 1999, he appeared in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and The Haunting. The 21st century brought K-19: The Widowmaker with Harrison Ford, Kinsey, Love Actually, Gangs of New York and Kingdom of Heaven a 2005 film documenting the Crusades and co-starring Orlando Bloom. In 2005 he appeared in Batman Begins playing Henri Ducard, nemesis of Bruce Wayne played by Christian Bale. Also in 2005, he voiced the character of Aslan in the film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He will reprise the role in the 2008 sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Personal Life
On July 3, 1994, Neeson married actress Natasha Richardson and the couple has two sons, Michéal Richard and Daniel Jack. They currently reside in New York.
External Links
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