If there is one thing we are constantly validating, it’s the fact that there’s more to our Hollywood celebrities than what meets the eyes. Like you and I, they have personal lives and responsibilities. So it’s time to see what this action star is all about when he’s off the screen. Let’s check out Liam Neeson’s wife and his children.
Liam Neeson’s Wife
This qualifies as a real-life tragedy seeing as Liam Neeson’s wife, Natasha Richardson has been deceased since 18 March 2009. Theirs was a love story that started when they starred alongside each other in the 1993 revival of Anna Christie at what was then the Criterion Center.
She had just concluded her divorce with producer Robert Fox and he was still a bachelor in every sense of the word. According to Daily News, the pair’s chemistry electrified the stage, thrilled critics, and earned them both Tony nominations. Soon after, the rumors about the two together beginning to pop up.
Here is what Richardson had to say about it, ‘ It was not an easy time when I met Liam, working with him, what happened between us, and that becoming public knowledge in conjunction with my marriage falling apart, was kind of bad timing. So what can I say? Obviously, I fell very much in love with him.’
She was also not discouraged by the fact that Neeson was a renowned ladies’ man, ‘ I’m pleased that women fall in love with him because I know why.’ It was after the actor filmed Schindler’s List that he finally reconnected with Natasha and on the first Sunday in July 1994, they convened guests to witness their marriage at their rural retreat in upstate New York.
Liam Neeson’s wife wasn’t the only victim of life-threatening accidents during the course of their marriage (though in her case, the accident took her life) in 2000, Neeson collided with a deer that jumped into his path while he was riding his 1989 Harley-Davidson near their country home. Fortunately, he recovered from all the injuries, even in time to star in his 2001 movie, Gangs of New York.
The couple had a wonderful and fulfilled life together and it was cut too short, on 18 March 2009, when Natasha lost her life as a result of an epidural hematoma after a skiing accident in Quebec, Canada. Neeson had to be saddled with the weighty responsibility of ‘pulling the plug’.
The couple earlier ‘made a pact’ if ‘any of us got into a vegetative state that we’d pull the plug.’ She was in the presence of close friends and family when the deed was finally done. It was quite a rough ride for Neeson after that, he battled with alcoholism but he got through it eventually.
As of last year, the Taken star admitted that he was in a new relationship and was incredibly happy, but the identity of his new love still remains undisclosed. We do wish him the very best.
Liam Neeson Sons
Liam and Natasha had two sons together, Michael and Daniel Neeson. The two were relatively young when their mother died, but old enough to feel the grief that followed. Michael was born on 22 June 1995 (21) and his brother Daniel was born just a year after him on 27 August 1996 (20).
Daniel tries his best to stay out of the limelight but his older brother is slowly following in his parent’s footsteps. Michael even opened up to the media about the strenuous journey of grief over his mother’s death. For a 13-year-old boy, it must not have been an easy feat.
He told the Sunday Times, ‘ I was going out, partying a lot, looking for self-gratification. I wanted to be the man, doing these drugs, everybody said, ‘This kid has lost his mum, that’s where the problem comes from.’ And I was like, ‘No, it isn’t, I just like to party.’ But looking back, I realize it was a delayed reaction.’
It was in 2014 that he finally reached the point where he had to seek help, so he checked into rehab and it’s been a bit easier since then. Michael obviously wants to pick up the family trade but his dad, Liam, is not so enthusiastic about it, he said, ‘ Please, can you just be a farmer or a bartender or something?’
He can disapprove but he obviously cannot stop him as the two have even starred in a commercial together, nevertheless, he believes his mother would have been on board with his decision to pursue an acting career. Also, Liam Neeson has no other children.
