He currently lives in Washington, New York, and is married to actress Natasha Richardson, with whom he has two sons, Michael and Daniel.

He briefly studied at the University of Belfast in physics and computer science, but dropped out. Bloody shame, really; Belfast needs more physicists.

He had attended Belfast's Queens College to become a teacher, but after joining the Belfast Lyric Players' Theatre's 1976 performance of The Risen People, he pursued theatre. In 1978, he joined Dublin's Abbey Theatre. His talent was discovered by director John Boorman, so he got the role of Sir Gawain in the 1981 film Excalibur.

His first leading film role was in the 1990 Darkman, but his most famous role is that of Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's 1993 movie Schindler's List, in which he was a nominee for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

Back on the stage in 1993, Neeson co-starred with his now-wife, Natasha Richardson, in "Anna Christie", and he was again nominated, this time for a Tony Award. He had worked with her on one previous occasion; during the television mini-series Ellis Island, in 1984.

On December 31, 1999, he was named an Officer of the Order of British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen.

On July 11, 2000, he had a motorcycle collision with a deer, and he chipped and fractured his pelvis. He was discovered by a passing motorist. He is 193cm tall. These are not related.

Films in which he has played:
K-19: The Widowmaker, 2001, Capt. Polenin
Gun Shy, 2000, Charlie
The Haunting, 1999, Dr. David Marrow
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, 1999, Qui-Gon Jinn
Les Misérables, 1998, Jean Valjean
Clark Gable: Tall, Dark and Handsome, 1996, Host
Michael Collins, 1996, Michael Collins
Before and After, 1996, Ben Ryan
Rob Roy, 1995, MacGregor
Nell, 1994, Dr. Jerome 'Jerry' Lovell
Ethan Frome, 1993, Ethan Frome
Schindler's List, 1993, Oskar Schindler
Ruby Cairo, 1993, Fergus Lamb
Husbands and Wives, 1992, Michael
Leap of Faith, 1992, Will
Under Suspicion, 1992, Tony Aaron
Shining Through, 1992, Franz-Otto Dietrich
The Big Man, 1990, Danny Scoular
Darkman, 1990, Peyton Westlake/Darkman
Next of Kin, 1989, Briar Gates
The Dead Pool, 1988, Peter Swan
The Good Mother, 1988, Leo Cutter
High Spirits, 1988, Martin Brogan
Satisfaction, 1988, Martin Falcon
Suspect, 1987, Carl Wayne Anderson
A Prayer for the Dying, 1987, Liam Docherty
Duet for One, 1986, Totter
Lamb, 1986, Michael Lamb
The Mission, 1986, Fielding
The Innocent, 1985, John Carns
The Bounty, 1984, Seaman Charles Churchill
Krull, 1983, Kegan
Nailed, 1981, Young Catholic
Excalibur, 1981, Gawain

Future projects:
Exorcist: Dominion, 2003, Father Lankester Merrin
Gangs of New York, 2002, Priest Vallon