William John "Liam" Neeson, OBE (born 7 June 1952) is an Irish actor, who has been an American citizen since 2009. He is well known for his roles as Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Bryan Mills in Taken and Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia film series. He has also starred in several other blockbusters, including Darkman, Rob Roy, Kingdom of Heaven, Batman Begins and Taken. He has played several characters based on real people, including Oskar Schindler, Michael Collins and Alfred Kinsey, and is set to play U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in a 2011 Steven Spielberg-directed biographical film based on the book Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Neeson was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the son of Katherine "Kitty" (née Brown), a cook, and Barnard "Barney" Neeson, a caretaker at the local Catholic girls' primary school. He was called Liam, Irish for William, after the local priest. He was the third child in the family and the only boy among four siblings; his sisters are Elizabeth, Bernadette and Rosaline. At age nine, Neeson began boxing lessons at the All Saints Youth Club, and later became Ulster amateur senior boxing champion. It was at age eleven that Neeson first stepped on stage. His English teacher gave him the lead role in a school play, which he accepted because the girl he fancied would be starring. From then on, he kept acting in school productions for the following years. His interest in acting and decision to become an actor was also influenced by Ian Paisley whose church Neeson would sneak into. Neeson has said of Paisley that "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. And his Baptism skills are second to none."

While at University, Neeson`s abilities as a talented footballer emerged, which resulted in him being spotted by Bohemian F.C. manager Seán Thomas. Neeson travelled to Dublin for a trial with the club, and featured briefly when he came on as a substitute in a game against Shamrock Rovers, replacing Tony O`Connell. Neeson was not offered a contract at the club and that remained his only performance in professional football.