Neeson, who lost his wife Natasha Richardson in 2009, recently said that he still speaks to her ‘every day’

Liam Neeson is starring in the new thriller “Retribution” — his latest in a long string of action hero roles.

The 71-year-old actor plays workaholic bank executive Matt Turner, who is driving his children to school when he is informed by an unknown caller that a bomb is strapped to the bottom of his car seat.

Neeson’s character is told that if he and his children attempt to exit the vehicle or call the police, the bomb will be detonated. The unidentified individual says he must comply with a series of demands to save himself and his family.

The “Pretty Baby” star wrote that she then “never heard from him again.”

“He was there one minute and gone the next. You know, I was shocked, I couldn’t believe it. Yeah. He was taken,” Shields told The Times, referring to his famous movie franchise.

However, Shields later told People magazine that she did see Neeson after that and he proposed again.

“He came back after the first time he left me and asked me to marry him again,” the actress said.

She continued, “This was before he started to do a play [“Anna Christie”]. And I said, ‘No, no, no, because knowing you, you’ll probably fall in love with your next leading lady and marry her, so I’m leaving myself out of this.’ And I was dead right.”

Brooke Shields and Liam Neeson in 1992. (Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images)

Neeson and Richardson married in 1994 and later welcomed sons Micheál Richardson, now 28, and Daniel Neeson, now 27.

After “Schindler’s List,” Neeson starred in a number of period drama including “Rob Roy,” “Les Misérables” and “Michael Collins,” the latter of which earned him a second Golden Globe nomination.

 

In 1999, Neeson played Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in the first film of the “Star Wars” prequel series “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” and voiced cameo appearances in the 2002 sequel “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” the 2019 movie “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” and the tv shows “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,”  “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi.”

Samuel L. Jackson and Liam Neeson pose with Chewbacca at the premiere of “Star Wars: Episode III Revenge Of The Sith,” May 12, 2005 in New York City. (Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

The actor earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the Broadway play “The Crucible” and starred a number of movies including “K-19: The Widowmaker” “Gangs of New York,” “Love Actually,” “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Batman Begins.”

Neeson earned his third Golden Globe nomination after playing sexologist Albert Kinsey in 2004’s “Kinsey.”

Liam Neeson became an A-list actor after starring in “Schindler’s List.” (Photo by Francois G. Durand/WireImage)

In 2008, Neeson’s career took an unexpected turn when he starred as retired CIA operative in the action movie “Taken.” In a 2023 interview with Indiewire, Neeson recalled attending the Shanghai Film Festival with Richardson where he approached “Taken” director Luc Besson about playing the movie’s lead.

“I was hoping to meet him and I did. I said, ‘Look, Luc, I’m sure I’m not on even your long list of people, but would you consider me?’” Neeson told the outlet.

After landing the part, Neeson spent three months filming in Paris. “I was in heaven. It was just a joy,” he said.

Though he said he believed that the movie would “go straight to video,” it became a worldwide hit and launched Neeson’s career as a bankable action star.

Liam Neeson’s career took an unexpected turn when he became an action star after his movie “Taken.” (PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

However, tragedy struck the following year when Richardson died unexpectedly after falling during a beginner’s ski lesson in Québec, Canada. Believing the fall was not serious, the actress refused medical attention twice.

After her condition began to deteriorate, she was taken by ambulance to a Montreal trauma center where it was discovered that she had suffered an epidural hematoma, a condition in which bleeding occurs between the brain and the skull.

When Neeson arrived at the hospital, he was met with the devastating news that his wife was brain-dead. During a “60 Minutes” interview in 2014, Neeson recalled that he and Richardson had promised each other that they would “pull the plug” if there was ever a situation in which they could not live.

“I went in to her and told her I loved her,” he remembered. “[I] said, ‘Sweetie, you’re not coming back from this. You’ve banged your head. It’s — I don’t know if you can hear me, but that’s — this is what’s gone down. And we’re bringing ya back to New York. All your family and friends will come.’ And that was more or less it.”

Richardson died at the age of 45 two days later on May 18, 2009 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

In 2009, Natasha Richardson died tragically after a fall during a beginner’s ski lesson. (Shawn Ehlers/WireImage)

“There’s periods now in our New York residence when I hear the door opening, especially the first couple of years, she would always drop the keys in the — on the table. Say, ‘Hello?’” Neeson shared during the “60 Minutes” interview.

“So anytime I hear that door opening I still think I’m gonna hear her, you know. And, then, it’s — grief’s like — it hits you. It’s like a wave. You just get this profound feeling of instability. You feel like a three-legged table. Just suddenly you just — the Earth isn’t stable anymore. And then it passes and becomes more infrequent, but I still get it sometimes.”

 

Following her death, Neeson plunged back into work which he later said was to distract himself from the grief of losing Richardson.

“I think I survived by running away some. Running away to work,” Neeson told Esquire in 2011.

“That’s the weird thing about grief. You can’t prepare for it,” he added. “You think you’re gonna cry and get it over with. You make those plans, but they never work.”

Neeson continued, “It hits you in the middle of the night — well, it hits me in the middle of the night. I’m out walking. I’m feeling quite content. And it’s like suddenly, boom. It’s like you’ve just done that in your chest.”

Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson shared sons Micheál Richardson, now 28, and Daniel Neeson, now 27. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

A year and a half after Richardson’s death, Neeson began dating British publicist Freya St Johnston, but the pair split in 2012 after two years together. Since then, Neeson has not been involved in a public relationship.

“They say the hardest thing in the world is losing someone you love,” Neeson wrote in a Facebook post in 2016. “My wife died unexpectedly. She brought me so much joy. She was my everything.”

Since Richardson’s death, Neeson has starred in over 40 films including “Taken 2 and “Taken 3” as well as 14 other action movies.

“It is fun to explore these kick-butt characters,” Neeson told Entertainment Weekly in 2011.

“When I was in Hollywood in the ’80s, I was not that guy. I was never even considered for those types of roles. At that time, they had all these huge action stars like Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Stallone. But it was always a genre I wanted to do but I never actively pursued it because I was nothing like those established guys… I started doing a few sword and sorcery movies so I could use a sword and a light saber. And it went from there really.”

Liam Neeson has acted in 16 action films and 100 movies in total. (Oscar Gonzalez/NurPhoto)

In 2016, Neeson told reporters at the Toronto Film Festival that he planned to retire from the action genre. He later clarified in an interview with the New York Post that he was joking.

During an appearance on the “Today” show in 2022, Neeson marveled over continuing to receive offers for action hero roles as he ages.

“I turn 70 this year, so I’m still getting away with it,” he quipped.

In 2022 interview with the A.V. Club, Neeson reflected on the “joy” of acting in those types of films.

“I mean, it’s great to play these action heroes, fighting bad guys and all the rest of it. I think audiences vicariously live through you, through their heroes,” he said.

 

In February, Neeson celebrated hitting the milestone of appearing in 100 movies. When asked during an interview with IndieWire what the milestone meant to him, the actor replied, “Two things, I guess: A, I’m certainly getting older and B, I’ve been incredibly lucky. That being said, I have created my own luck.”

In a recent interview, Liam Neeson said that he still talks to Natasha Richardson “every day.” ( Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

After turning 71 in June, Neeson shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. He is slated to appear in seven upcoming movies, all within the thriller and action genres.

Though he has stayed busy with work, and 14 years have passed since Richardson’s death, Neeson recently shared that he feels their bond is as strong as ever.

During his June appearance on the “Conan Needs A Friend” podcast, the 60-year-old TV host apologized for mentioning a meeting that the two had shortly after Richardson passed away.

“No, it’s fine,” Neeson said. “We still talk every day, me and Natasha. Every day.”