Over his almost 50-year career, Liam Neeson has been a Jedi Master, a humanitarian member of the Nazi party, a charming widower and a vengeful father in the Taken franchise, a role that transformed the actor into an iconic action star.

Recently, Neeson, who at 72 is unsure he can convincingly throw a punch, revealed that he’s considering retirement as “it has to stop at some stage.”

Keep reading to learn more about the news that will surely shatter the hearts of Neeson’s fans!

Liam Neeson is an acclaimed Irish actor known for his versatile roles across different genres, from dramatic performances to action-packed films. His breakthrough came in the early 1990s with his portrayal of Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List, earning him global recognition and multiple award nominations​.

Over the next decade, the Oscar-nominated actor appeared in several films from charming romantic leads to a starring role as a Jedi Master in Star Wars, the biggest franchise in the world.

Next, leaning on his “very particular set of skills,” Neeson transformed into an action star with Taken (2008), a bold and unexpected career pivot that paid off spectacularly.

The Love Actually star’s shift into the realm of high-octane thrillers came as a surprise to many. At the age of 56, Neeson found a new identity as a leading man in action-packed films, proving his versatility and enduring appeal across genres and generations.

“It just seemed to have touched something in the psychic nerve of moviegoing audiences,” the father of two tells People in an October 2024 interview.

His gruff, no-nonsense portrayal of a relentless father made him an unlikely but hugely effective action hero. The film’s iconic phone scene, where Mills delivers his memorable threat, became a defining moment in modern action cinema.

The film’s success not only solidified Neeson’s place as a late-career action star but also spawned two successful sequels and other similar roles in action films.