Was considered for the part of Dracula in the cult classic The Monster Squad (1987).

Was a boxer as a teen-ager in Northern Ireland, which resulted in getting his nose broken at the age of 15. Nevertheless, he went on to win the Irish Youth Championship. A brief blackout after one of his fights, however, caused him to give up the ring for good.

Has worked together repeatedly with Laura Linney, including in Kinsey (2004), Love Actually (2003), and in a Broadway revival of "The Crucible", having played husband and wife in Kinsey (2004) and "The Crucible". The two have joked about feeling like "an old married couple".

A member of the Dublin Shakespeare Theatre Festival where his past credits include "Hamlet", "King Richard II" and "All's Well That Ends Well".

Was chosen for the role of Gawain in Excalibur (1981) primarily because director John Boorman wanted a large man in the role for the duel between Gawain and Lancelot (Nicholas Clay). It was on this film where he met Helen Mirren, who was playing Morgana.

He recalled his most embarrassing moment in acting as, relatively early in his career, he auditioned for the role of Fezzik, the giant, in The Princess Bride (1987). Director Rob Reiner had a look of disgust on his face when he realized that Neeson was "only" six-feet-four and André the Giant ended up getting the role.

Loves fly-fishing

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#74). [1995]

Graduated from the Gaiety School of Drama in Dublin, Ireland.

Though he was eager to be a part of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) (the first of the Star Wars prequel trilogy), he reportedly hated working on the film, once shooting started, remarking that he "felt like a puppet".

Children, with Natasha Richardson, Michael Antonio (b. 1995) and Daniel Jack (b. 1997).

Friend of actor Henry Herman.

Won a libel case against newspapers who claimed that his marriage was in trouble. [October 1998]

Ranked #69 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Schindler's List (1993) is ranked #3 on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time.

Has dated actresses Helen Mirren, Julia Roberts, Brooke Shields, Barbra Streisand and singer Sinéad O'Connor.

Brother-in-law of Joely Richardson.

Wanted to be in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) so badly, he didn't even bother reading the script.

First worked with future wife actress Natasha Richardson on the TV mini-series "Ellis Island" (1984) (mini).

Was twice nominated for Broadway's Tony Award as Best Actor (Play): in 1993 for a revival of Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie," and in 2002 for a revival of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible."

Was connected to David Lean's production of "Nostromo", but he withdrew before pre-production began and Lean's subsequent death.

Nominated for Tony award for Best Leading Actor in a play for role in "The Crucible", May 2002.

Is one of seven actors who played a character in both the "Star Wars" and "Batman" films: William Hootkins (X-Wing pilot/Lt. Eckhardt), 'Garrick Hagon' (Biggs/mugging victim), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian/Harvey Dent), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker/voice of The Joker, Clive Revill, (voice of the Emperor/voice of Alfred Pennyworth), Brock Peters, (radio voice of Darth Vader/voice of Lucuis Fox and Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn/Ra's Al Ghul).

It was his role in Shining Through (1992) as a high Nazi party official that got him noticed by Steven Spielberg, and that eventually led to him being cast as Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List (1993).

Attended Queen's University of Belfast for a short while to study physics and computer science, but flunked out.

Was named an Officer of the Order of British Empire (OBE) by Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on New Year's Eve, 1999

Son-in-law of actress Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Richardson.

He was considered for the role of Van Helsing in Dracula (1992) (and reportedly he very much wanted the role), however, he was turned down when Anthony Hopkins showed an interest in the role and ultimately got it.

Was very active with the Royal National Theatre in London during the nineties where he performed a wide range of Shakespeare's works.

Was considered for the role of James Bond in GoldenEye (1995).

On 11 July 2000 he fractured his right pelvis and chipped his left pelvis and sustained multiple abrasions to his legs after hitting a deer while riding his 1989 Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Connecticut. He was thrown off the motorcycle just before it smashed into a nearby tree. A passing motorist found him crawling along the roadside. Due to this accident he was unable to appear as a "Force Ghost" in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), and is only heard as a disembodied voice in the scene following Anakin's slaughter of the Tusken Raider Camp.

In an interview with the BBC, he said that Northern Irish Protestant minister Ian Paisley influenced his decision to become an actor. He use to sneak into the church in his hometown of Ballymena and watch Mr. Paisley preach. "He had a magnificent presence and it was incredible to watch this six foot-plus man just bible-thumping away. It was acting but it was also great acting and stirring too.".

Auditioned for, and was accepted by, the Bristol Old Vic Drama School in England, but decided to attend the Gaiety School of acting instead so he could stay active with the Dublin Shakespeare Festival while in school.

Was Oliver Stone's very first choice for the role of King Phillip of Macedonia in Alexander (2004).

Is an honorary board member of the CDS (Conference of Drama Schools) in England, which also includes Sir Anthony Hopkins, Brian Cox, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole and Jeremy Irons (to name a few). The board oversees all drama schools in England.