Liam Neeson, 72, says he’s retiring from action movies

Liam Neeson seems ready to close the curtain on his action-hero era.

The 72-year-old Irish actor, who began his career on Belfast‘s theater stages, has confirmed plans to step away from action films after enjoying a thrilling career resurgence in roles like Taken, Star Wars, and The Grey.

He admits the physical demands are catching up with him, acknowledging it’s time to step aside as some stunts may soon be beyond his reach.

‘I’m 72—it has to stop at some stage,’ Neeson shared with People on Wednesday.

‘You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want Mark [his longtime stunt double Mark Vanselow] to be fighting my fight scenes for me.’

Liam Neeson has confirmed plans to step away from action films after enjoying a thrilling career resurgence in roles like Taken, Star Wars , and The Grey; (pictured 2022)

He admits the physical demands are catching up with him, acknowledging it’s time to step aside as some stunts may soon be beyond his reach; (pictured  in Honest Thief)

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Liam Neeson reveals he was offered the chance to play James Bond in the 1990s… but his future wife Natasha Richardson wouldn’t marry him if he took the role

While he hasn’t set a firm date for his final action flick, Neeson hinted that his exit could come as soon as 2025.

‘Maybe the end of next year. I think that’s it,’ he said.

His next film, Absolution, hitting theaters November 1, follows an aging gangster trying to reconnect with his children and atone for past mistakes.

He’s also just finished filming a reboot of the classic comedy The Naked Gun.

Hailing from Northern Ireland, Liam began his film journey with the 1978 movie Pilgrim’s Progress.

His breakout came with Schindler’s List, where his powerful performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor at 41.

In 1999, he stepped into the Star Wars universe, portraying Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace.

Following his Star Wars debut, Neeson’s career took a sharp turn toward action, with roles in films like Batman Begins and Taken, the latter transforming him into an unexpected action star well into his 50s.

‘I’m 72—it has to stop at some stage,’ Neeson shared with People on Wednesday; (pictured in The Grey)

‘You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want Mark [his longtime stunt double Mark Vanselow] to be fighting my fight scenes for me,’ Liam said; (pictured in Memory)

While he hasn’t set a firm date for his final action flick, Neeson hinted that his exit could come as soon as 2025; (pictured in Memory)

The Taken franchise catapulted him into a new era of stardom, cementing his reputation as a go-to leading man in action-packed thrillers like The Grey and Non-Stop.

The retirement announcement comes nearly a year after he revealed he almost portrayed James Bond, a role that could have changed his life in more ways than one.

Before Schindler’s List hit theaters in 1993, Neeson met Natasha Richardson while they co-starred in a Broadway revival of Anna Christie. They married in 1994, but as Neeson shared in a Rolling Stone interview, Richardson made it clear that if he took the role of 007, there would be no wedding.

‘I knew the Broccolis,’ Neeson recalled, referring to the legendary producers behind the Bond franchise, Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and his daughter, Barbara. After Schindler’s List, they approached him about becoming the next James Bond.

The retirement announcement comes nearly a year after he revealed he almost portrayed James Bond; (pictured in Cold Pursuit)

He was interested, but Richardson put her foot down. ‘Liam, I want to tell you something: If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married,’ she told him during the filming of Nell, per the star.

‘She gave me a James Bond ultimatum. And she meant it!’ Neeson continued, adding why he thought she didn’t want him to take the role.

‘Come on, there’s all those gorgeous girls in various countries getting into bed and getting out of bed. I’m sure a lot of her decision-making was based on that!’ he admitted.

In the end, the role went to Pierce Brosnan, who debuted as 007 in 1995’s Goldeneye.