Liam Neeson isn’t sure how much longer he can be an action movie star.
The “Taken” star, 72, addressed when he’ll retire from acting in physically-demanding projects in an interview with People magazine published Wednesday.
“I’m 72 — it has to stop at some stage,” Neeson said. “You can’t fool audiences.”
Neeson at the “Marlowe” UK premiere in March 2023. WireImage“Maybe the end of next year,” he added about his retirement plan. “I think that’s it.”
At this point in his career, Neeson still does his own fight scenes but lets his longtime collaborator, Mark Vanselow, do the more extensive stunt work.
“I don’t want Mark to be fighting my fight scenes for me,” he explained.
Neeson (right) in “Taken.” ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Neeson in “The Commuter.” ©Lions Gate/courtesy Everett Collecti / Everett CollectionNeeson has famously played the leading man in countless action films, including the “Taken” series, “The A-Team,” “The Grey,” “Wrath of the Titans,” “Run All Night,” “The Commuter,” “Cold Pursuit” and his latest film, “Absolution.”
His career, which started in the late 1970s, has also included war dramas (“Michael Collins” and “Schindler’s List”), blockbusters (“Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” and “Batman Begins”) and romantic comedies (“Love Actually” and “Ordinary Love”).
Ewan McGregor (left) and Neeson in “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.” Associated Press
Neeson in “Absolution.” ©Samuel Goldwyn Films/Courtesy Everett CollectionNeeson is also exercising his comedy chops in the upcoming “The Naked Gun” remake set for release in 2025.
“Whether I can carry it or not, I honestly don’t know,” he said about his “silly” role as hapless cop Frank Drebin Jr. in the film.
But his co-star, Pamela Anderson, said otherwise.
“He’s being humble,” she told People. “It was hard to keep a straight face in scenes together.”
Neeson in New York City on Sept. 30, 2024. Steven HirschNeeson previously said at the start of 2021 that he was eyeing a retirement from action movies.
“I’m 68 and a half. Sixty-nine this year. There’s a couple more I’m going to do this year,” he said in an interview with “Entertainment Tonight” at the time.
“There’s a couple in the pipeline and then I think that will probably be it,” Neeson added. “Well, unless I’m on a Zimmer frame or something.”
Neeson in “Wrath of the Titans.” ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett CollectionThe year prior, Neeson told ET he was done with superhero movies after playing Ra’s al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’s first “Batman” movie.
“I’m really not a huge fan of the genre. I think it’s Hollywood with all the bells and whistles and the technical achievements and stuff — which I admire — but I have no desire to go into the gym for three hours every day to pump myself up to squeeze into a Velcro suit with a cape,” he said.
Neeson also said that while he “enjoyed” doing “Star Wars: Episode I,” he doesn’t want to return to that franchise either.
