Liam Neeson’s cinematic journey has spanned almost five decades, during which he’s portrayed characters as diverse as a Jedi Master, a member of the Nazi party for a morally complex role, a charming widower, and, most famously, a relentless father in the Taken series—a role that unexpectedly transformed him into an action icon in his mid-fifties. This reinvention turned Neeson, known primarily for dramatic roles, into a household name synonymous with high-stakes action and gritty resolve.

Now, at 72, Neeson is contemplating retirement from action films, remarking that “it has to stop at some stage.” As age advances, the once seemingly indestructible action hero wonders if he can still convincingly deliver the intense scenes that audiences have come to love. For fans, the news might signal the end of an era.

Over the years, Liam Neeson has built a reputation as a versatile and deeply respected actor. His breakout role came in the early 1990s when he played Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List, a film that earned him international acclaim and solidified his place among Hollywood’s finest. The performance not only brought him critical recognition but also opened the door to numerous award nominations, setting the stage for a career that would defy easy categorization.

Throughout the following decade, Neeson showcased his range by diving into various roles—from romantic leads to iconic characters like Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, a part in one of cinema’s biggest franchises. But his career took an unexpected turn in 2008 with Taken, where he portrayed Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative determined to save his kidnapped daughter. The role, featuring the unforgettable line “I will find you, and I will kill you,” became an instant classic. It struck a chord with audiences worldwide and catapulted Neeson into the realm of action, marking a new chapter in his career at a time when most actors might be winding down.

This foray into action films at age 56 came as a surprise to many who knew him for his dramatic roles. However, Taken proved that Neeson had the grit and gravitas needed to captivate action fans, and his portrayal of Bryan Mills was widely praised. The film’s success not only made him a viable action star in his late fifties but also led to two sequels and a series of similar roles that showcased his tough, relentless on-screen presence.
Neeson himself acknowledges the unique appeal that his performance seemed to tap into. He noted in a recent interview that Taken had “touched something in the psychic nerve of moviegoing audiences.” The role’s intensity, coupled with Neeson’s no-nonsense delivery, made Mills an iconic character. The franchise’s massive success marked Neeson’s status as a top action star, allowing him to take on similar roles in films that demanded physical prowess and the portrayal of complex, often tortured characters.
Hans Petter Moland, who directed Neeson in Cold Pursuit (2019) and the upcoming film Thug, describes the actor’s deep commitment to his roles. “When he’s immersed in the character, you see the hurt, you see the pain,” Moland shares. “He becomes that man.” This ability to embody his characters so convincingly has helped Neeson maintain a strong connection with audiences even as he’s aged.
Despite his ongoing success, Neeson has indicated that his age is beginning to limit his ability to perform demanding action scenes. Known for his hands-on approach to stunts, Neeson has always preferred to do as much of his own action work as possible, often collaborating with his longtime stunt coordinator and double, Mark Vanselow. Their partnership, which began with Taken, has become a defining part of Neeson’s late-career action roles. Vanselow designs intense fight sequences tailored to Neeson’s abilities, ensuring that the actor can perform as much of the action as possible without compromising safety. However, Neeson admits, “You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want Mark to be fighting my fight scenes for me.” This honesty about his limits reflects his respect for both the art of film and the intelligence of his fans.
When pressed about his retirement timeline, Neeson hints that he may be ready to step back from action films in the near future, possibly by the end of next year. This revelation is bittersweet for fans who have come to see Neeson as an enduring figure in action cinema. However, the actor doesn’t appear to be entirely stepping away from the screen. He’s now exploring a new direction, taking on roles in comedy, a genre he’s rarely ventured into.
Recently, Neeson completed filming The Naked Gun, a reboot of the 1988 crime spoof comedy originally starring the late Leslie Nielsen as the hilariously inept cop Frank Drebin. In the 2025 release, Neeson takes on the role of Drebin, partnering with Baywatch star Pamela Anderson. “I’m madly in love with her,” he says of Anderson, adding, “I can’t compliment her enough. She’s funny.” Though Neeson himself is uncertain about his comedic abilities, Anderson assures fans that his humility doesn’t reflect his talent. “It was hard to keep a straight face in scenes together,” she shares, hinting at a lively chemistry between the two on set.
Neeson’s move into comedy represents yet another reinvention in a career that has already seen many transformations. While it may seem like an unusual choice for someone known for intense dramatic and action roles, it’s also a testament to Neeson’s desire to continue challenging himself and keeping his work fresh. Trying his hand at comedy could open new doors and help him connect with audiences in a different way, allowing fans to see a lighter side of him.
As he approaches what could be his final year in action films, Neeson’s legacy as a cinematic chameleon who has skillfully navigated roles across genres is undeniable. From his early days as a respected dramatic actor to his unexpected rise as an action hero and now a budding comedy star, Neeson’s career has been one of resilience, reinvention, and an unwavering commitment to his craft. Even if he ultimately steps away from the action genre, fans will surely continue to follow his journey, eager to see what he brings to the screen next.
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For the three-part Gunsmoke episode “Gold Train,” Matt Dillon receives a bullet wound that Doc decides is beyond his skill level to operate.

This sends the Marshal on a harrowing journey by train to see a specialist.

The whole sprawling episode, it’s bad enough the lawman is on the brink of paralysis, but then the action amps up even more when a gang hijacks the train, led by an outlaw who bears a very deep grudge against Matt.

It’s certainly a gripping episode, and it’s one in which you see how much this seasoned cast of characters truly cares for one another.

During the third part, Festus fills in as the hero, as Doc overcomes his fears of inadequacy to ultimately save Matt from losing feeling in his limbs forever.
By 1971, Gunsmoke had been on the air for 16 years, and you’d think that would give the main cast plenty of time to get to know one another, but famously Gunsmoke star James Arness was, as The Tallahassee Democrat wrote , “one of the most private men in Hollywood.”
His closest onscreen costar Amanda Blake, who played Kitty, said Arness kept everyone at a distance.
“Jim is the mystery man,” Blake said. “Like most men, he’s an overgrown 12-year-old. He’s delightful, charming, one of the funniest men I’ve ever known. I really don’t know much about him, because he’s a private person. But he’s fun to work with.”
She said in the whole time she’d shared the screen with Arness, his cool but charming demeanor never changed, and Festus actor Ken Curtis agreed.
“I’ve been on the show 10 years and Jim hasn’t changed one iota,” Curtis said.
To Curtis, this sealed-off part of Arness’ personality was likely the reason why Gunsmoke went on so long. It was a good thing he kept to himself and never started any drama with anyone over all those years.
“I’ve seen many shows go down the drain because the star becomes impossible and disliked by everyone,” Curtis said. “He’s terrific to work with. When the time comes to buckle down to work, he’s ready.”
In 1973, Arness was named broadcasting’s Man of the Year, an honor won almost entirely on the strength of his enduring character work as Matt Dillon, but also propelled by a fascination the general public had with Arness.
Who was he, really? They must’ve thought: Let’s name him Man of the Year and find out!
At this time in his life, Arness rarely made any public appearances. He’d never be found chatting up fans beyond a cordial autograph signing here and there. Instead, he spent his time sailing or skiing at his Hawaii vacation home or flying his private plane to disappear into Baja California.
Nobody really knew what he was up to, and he liked it that way.
His costars didn’t mind him putting up a privacy fence around his personal life. They were happy to work with such a laid-back star.
“He’s the most unhypocritical man I know,” Millburn Stone, who played Doc, said. “He’s consistent. He is what he is, lives the way he does, and that’s it.”
When Arness accepted his Man of the Year award, it was a big deal. A thousand people packed into the audience as the tall TV cowboy made that rare appearance in the real world.
Hosting the event was comedy legend Carol Burnett. She made a crack about how hard it was to get close to Arness, and also admitted to harboring a big crush on the quiet cowboy!
“I’m thrilled to be giving this wonderful award to this wonderful man,” Burnett told the crowd. “I don’t know this man, but I’ve had the hots for him for years.”
Taking the award from Carol, Arness demurred. Instead of giving a speech and showing a glimpse of who he was inside, he kept his stage face on, saying, “Those are mighty kind words, gal. I’d like to invite you over to the Long Branch to walk up those stairs with you.”
Just a year short of 50, Arness then made a crack at his age, always shrouding any personal candidness with references to his famous show.
“Kitty and I have been walking up those stairs for 18 years and if it goes on much longer, they’ll have to move the room downstairs,” he joked.
As Gunsmoke’s long TV run wound down through the next few years, Arness kept quiet about how he enjoyed his own fame and fortune, and who he was at home.
But he did tell that crowd of 1,000 in 1973 that if it were up to him, he wouldn’t describe himself as “Man of the Year.”
One of TV’s biggest stars of all time used a humbler clump of words to sum himself up.
“I’m a lucky guy,” he said, tipping his hat and ducking back out of the public eye.
 
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The former James Bond actor noted that he would only resort to hitting a woman “if he had tried everything else” at the time.

At the end of last year, on December 30, 2022, noted journalist Barbara Walters died. The 93-year-old interviewer spoke to some iconic faces across her career, including Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand and Fred Astaire – to name but a few. However, one interview with a former James Bond star, Sean Connery, left the journalist speechless.

A shocked Walters put the question to Connery: “You think it’s good to slap a woman?” in a resurfaced 1987 interview.

The famed journalist asked the former 007 this question after he made some comments about attacking women in an interview with Playboy magazine back in 1965.

At the time, the actor – who played James Bond from 1962 to 1971 with Eon, before playing the hero again in 1983 – said: “I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong about hitting a woman, although I don’t recommend doing it in the same way that you’d hit a man.” He noted that an “openhanded slap” would be “justified” if “all other alternatives fail and there has been plenty of warning”.
He added: “If a woman is a b***h, or hysterical, or b****y-minded continually, then I’d do it.”
Walters quizzed Connery on these comments, and he responded: “I don’t think it’s good. I don’t think it’s bad. But it depends entirely on the circumstances and if it merits it.”
Walters continued to drill the 007 star, asking him what kind of circumstances would “merit” slapping a woman. “Well, if you have tried everything else,” he replied. “And women are pretty good at this, they can’t leave it alone. They want to have the last word, and you give them the last word, but they’re not happy with the last word. They want to say it again, and get into a really provocative situation. Then – I think it’s absolutely right.”
He went on to reiterate: “Seriously, it’s the last resort. He’s not gonna do it because he wants to do it.”
Walters smirked: “Wait until people see this interview. You’re gonna get mail.”
Six years later, in 1993, Connery spoke with Vanity Fair where he defended his interview with Walters. He claimed his words had been taken out of context.
“They taped two hours of me and only showed 20 minutes,” he said. “Barbara Walters was trying to get me to say it was okay to hit women. But I was really saying that to slap a woman was not the crudest thing you can do to her.” He added: “I said that in my book – it’s much more cruel to psychologically damage somebody. That’s what they’re looking for, the ultimate confrontation – they want a smack.” (sic)
Walters’ official cause of death has not been announced, but she had previously dealt with some heart issues. She was 93-years-old.
CEO of Disney and owner of ABC, Bob Igor, confirmed the death in a statement. He said: “I have sad news to share today as Barbara Walters passed away this evening at her home in New York. Barbara was a true legend, a pioneer, not just for women in journalism, but for journalism itself.”
He added: “She was a one of a kind reporter who landed many of the most important interviews of our time; from heads of state to the biggest celebrities and sports icons. I had the pleasure of calling Barbara a colleague for more than three decades. More importantly, I was able to call her a dear friend. She will be missed by all of us at the Walt Disney company and we send our deepest condolences to her daughter.” (sic)
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