07 June,2011 08:10 AM IST | | Special Features
He's made his presence felt in many films including the famous Schindler's List, Batman Begins, Les Miserables and has even given his voice to Aslan in the Chronicles of the Narnia series. As Liam Neeson turns 59 today, CS tells you more about the star:
>>u00a0William John 'Liam' Neeson is an Irish actor who has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards but hasn't won any. He's also appeared in films like The Haunting, Love Actually, Clash of the Titans and others.
>>u00a0Liam mom worked as a cook, while his dad was a caretaker at the local Catholic boys' primary school. At age nine, Liam began boxing lessons and went on to become an amateur senior boxing champion.
>>u00a0At 11, he first stepped on stage. His English teacher gave him the lead role in a school play, which he accepted because the girl he was attracted to would be starring. From then on, he kept acting in school productions.u00a0
>>u00a0After leaving university, Liam did a variety of casual jobs, from a fork-lift operator at Guinness to a truck driver. He also attended a teacher training college. 1976, Neeson joined the Lyric Players' Theatre in Belfast where he performed for two years. He got his first film experience in 1977, playing Jesus Christ and Evangelist in the religious film, Pilgrim's Progress. 4In 1987, he made a conscious decision to move to Hollywood in order to star in high-profile roles. That year, he starred alongside Cher and Dennis Quaid in Suspect. The role brought him critical applause, but it was 1990's Darkman that h became famous.
>>u00a0He is widowed and lives in New York with his two sons.
