Liam Neeson has starred in a string of hit action movies, but since Taken … to the Old Folks Home doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, he’s planning to hang up his fighting gloves after his next few movies wrap.
The Irish actor has made a name for himself as an action star thanks to roles in films such as Taken, Wrath of the Titans, The Commuter and Cold Pursuit. But the 68-year-old’s latest action flick The Marksman may be one of his last, with Neeson jokingly telling Entertainment Tonight he’d need a walker to continue.
Asked whether an end to his action film days is in sight, he said: “Oh, yeah. I think so. I’m 68 and a half. Sixty-nine this year. There’s a couple more I’m going to do this year — hopefully, COVID allowing us — there’s a couple in the pipeline and, then I think that will probably be it. Well, unless I’m on a Zimmer frame [walking frame] or something.”
Neeson went on to say while he still thoroughly enjoys fight scenes, he’s noticed they’re taking more of a toll on him these days.
“I love doing ’em,” he said. “I love beating up guys half my age. I’ve just finished one in Australia and I had a fight scene with a kid — lovely, sweet actor called Taylor — and halfway through the fight I looked up, I was breathless and it didn’t cost him a cent, and I said, ‘Taylor, what age are you?’. He said, ’25’. I said, ‘That’s the age of my eldest son!’.”
Fans of Neeson’s have since taken to social media to weigh in on the actor’s decision, with Twitter user @XJetPro saying: “It’s about time, he’s good at comedy.”
While @Lichking78 said his action films will be missed, tweeting: “Love his movies. Taken was his best.”
However, @HBWonder pointed out it’s not the first time the actor claimed he’s giving up action films for good, commenting: “He said the same thing five years ago.”
It’s true that Neeson did claim in a 2015 on Good Morning America that he thought he had another two action movies in him before he’d call it a day. However, he went on to continue the on-screen ass kicking in many movies since then, including The Marksman, Men in Black: International, and The Ice Road.
Neeson’s recent comments come two years after he revealed he still feels as though he’s 40 years old, despite being in his late 60s.
“I’ve gotta stop saying to myself, ‘I’m 65′. I’ve got to do that,” he told People magazine at the time. “It’s an Irish thing. Sort of seeing the glass half empty instead of half full. But inside I feel 40. But I sometimes think, ‘Who are you fooling? Who are you kidding?’ I’ve got to stop that. Life’s good! I’m very lucky and very blessed.”