Widowed Liam Neeson Put Everything Aside & Dedicated Life to Sons - He’s Nothing but ‘Proud’ Looking At Grown-up Boys Now

• Liam Neeson had a happy marriage at one point, living in bliss with his actress wife.
• His wife sadly passed away, leaving him with two sons.
• The dad stepped up after the death of his wife, raising two children he's proud to call his sons.

With hugely popular hits to his name like the "Taken" franchise and even "The Chronicles of Narnia," Liam Neeson has been a constant presence on our screens for years now. Despite his busy acting career, he has always been a family man, always tending closely to the needs of those he cares most about.

Among these was Neeson's beloved wife, Natasha Richardson, another actress Neeson loved dearly. But before Neeson met the love of his life, he didn't even consider going into entertainment. Initially studying Physics and Computer Science at Queen's University Belfast, Neeson had no intention of being the leading man he is today.

Neeson left his studies, trying out a few different vocations in the following years. Finally, he joined Belfast's Lyric Players Theatre and eventually the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. The "Memory" actor finally made his debut in the religious film "Christiana" in 1979 and amassed several supporting roles shortly after.

The father-of-two took to being a dad well, commenting on how much he loves his two sons.

Neeson also appeared in a few TV shows, such as "Ellis Island" and even the popular "Miami Vice." However, his first real role as a lead would come in the form of the film "Darkman," in 1990. Although he was the lead, the film didn't draw much attention from the public, and his career failed to take off.

Sticking with acting, Neeson tried out for his first Broadway play almost two years later. In 1992, the "Star Wars" actor landed his first real stage role when he starred in a revival of "Anna Christie" by Eugene O'Neill. It was also here where he would meet the woman he ended up marrying, Richardson.

Neeson and Richardson stunned their audience with their performances, and the famous director Steven Spielberg took notice. Although Richardson wasn't chosen for another role, Neeson landed his first significant part in a film, which would become a classic as soon as it was released.

Starring as the lead in "Schindler's List" put Neeson on the map. Not only did the actor's talents shine through for audiences, but he was also nominated for an Academy Award for best actor. From there, Neeson had his pick of lead roles, starring with Jodie Foster in "Nell" and captivating fans in "Rob Roy."

Neeson not only found growing success, but the actor also found love. In 1994, he married his "Anna Christie" co-star. However, before they married, Richardson was engaged to another. The actress was planning on marrying producer Robert Fox, while Neeson was dating a slew of now-famous women before the world adored them.

Although their lives were on different tracks, Neeson and Richardson soon realized they had a chemistry unlike any other when they worked together. The two were instantly attracted to each other as soon as they stepped foot on stage. And despite Richardson being entangled with another person, she and Neeson grew close.

The more time they spent together on the stage, the closer they became. Eventually, they started seeing each other in private, but with the media constantly tracking their movements, their relationship wouldn't remain secret for long.

By April, Richardson broke her engagement off. Although she wouldn't marry Fox any longer, she offered no explanation for the abrupt end to their relationship. Of course, news outlets descended on the actress, keeping a close eye on her and Neeson. They would soon have their news.

After Richardson and Neeson decided to go public with their relationship, the actress spoke candidly about falling for her co-star. She noted that although leaving Fox and breaking off her engagement was difficult, she believed she had made the right choice. Richardson remarked about Neeson:

"It was not an easy time when I met Liam. Working with him, what happened between us, and that becoming public knowledge in conjunction with my marriage falling apart was kind of bad timing. So what can I say? Obviously, I fell very much in love with him."

Richardson wasn't the only one head-over-heels. Neeson was very much love-struck, so much so that he proposed to Richardson, and in July 1994, the pair tied the knot in front of all their closest family and friends. They were in seventh heaven, but sadly, things wouldn't last. After having two kids, Richardson passed away in a terrible accident.

Losing His Wife and Raising Their Boys

After marrying the woman he fell in love with, the happy pair had two sons together, Micheál Richardson in 1995 and, almost a year later, in 1996, their second boy, Daniel Neeson. The father-of-two took to being a dad well, commenting on how much he loves his two sons. That said, he also noted how hard being a parent could be.

Neeson's oldest son opened up about his mother's death, saying the hardest part was that it happened so suddenly.

Being a dad presented unique challenges, with Neeson often commenting on how much he considers his children's futures. Over the years, Neeson has spoken candidly about raising his two boys, often gushing about how proud he is of them. Sadly, the children's mother wouldn't see them grow into the men they are today.

In March 2009, Neeson lost his beloved wife in a tragic skiing accident. At the time, Richardson was at Mont-Tremblant ski resort in Québec, Canada, presumably enjoying her time in the snow. While out on the slopes, Richardson suffered a severe fall, banging her head in the tumble. Initially, she did not think the fall was serious and refused to see a doctor, but when things did not look up, she was hospitalized.

Naturally, Neeson rushed to his wife's side, hoping the doctors could do something to save the woman he loved. For the next two days, Richardson was unconscious in the hospital, with her family hoping for a change in her condition. Finally, however, Neeson accepted that he wouldn't be getting his wife back.

The actor recalled the moment he said goodbye to Richardson, stepping into her hospital room and speaking openly to her. Unsure whether she could hear what he was saying, the actor explained that he would be letting her go. The family took their mother back to New York, where they held a memorial service and sent her off.

Taking Richardson off of life support was a difficult decision to make. However, Neeson revealed that he and his wife had made a pact years earlier that if either one of them landed in a state in which they couldn't respond and would likely not wake up, the other would pull the plug. So the actor kept his promise.

Neeson found solace in the fact that Richardson was an organ donor. After her death, the actress donated three organs to people in need, and her husband shared that knowing she helped to save the lives of other people made her death slightly more bearable. That said, it was still a horrid ordeal for Neeson and his sons.

Although the actor's boys were strong, life was still an adjustment after losing their mom. Even Neeson had trouble adapting. He confessed that Richardson's death largely seemed surreal, as if she would strut through the door at any time, waving and greeting her family. And years after her death, Neeson still felt her near him.

The actor also made a point of keeping her memory alive by visiting her grave daily. He would walk the few blocks to Richardson's grave and stop by for a quick update on how things were going. Neeson's two boys also found ways to honor their mom, with the oldest changing his last name to Richardson.

His dad commented on the choice, saying he supported his son when he revealed what he intended to do for two reasons. Firstly, the dad would hate for his son — also an actor — to live in his dad's shadow. Neeson also revealed he believed it was a lovely way to keep the memory of the boy's mother alive.

Although being a single parent was hard, Neeson confessed that his boys are the two most important things in his life. The actor can often be seen spending quality time with them, frequently taking them out to watch a game of ice hockey.

Neeson and His Boys Now

Neeson and his children's lives changed drastically after Richardson died. Neeson's oldest son opened up about his mother's death, saying the hardest part was that it happened so suddenly. There was no build-up, no chance to say goodbye. Instead, the family just got the call one day, and they had to deal with the consequences.

Neeson has spoken highly of his sons in the past, saying he's delighted with the men they've become.

Neeson also struggled to cope with the sudden loss of his wife. At first, the actor turned to alcohol to handle his pain. Although he confessed he never really drank hard liquor or spirits, he was a big fan of Pinot Noir. Luckily, he realized how dangerous it could be to dull his sadness with drink, and he's been sober ever since.

He also confessed that he never really felt the urge to start dating again after he lost his wife. Instead, he focused his energy on being there for his boys and continuing to make films. He also opened up about being a dad, saying he often worries about his boys, but he does trust them to make good choices and honor their mom.

The actor spoke candidly about how his two sons have grown up, saying he is "proud" of the way they keep their mom's memory alive. But the actor is also happy to see what his boys have done with their lives.

The oldest of the two brothers made his film debut in the 2013 film "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues." Since then, the young man has added numerous titles to his name, including "Vox Lux," "Paradise," and "Big Dogs," among others. He has also starred alongside his father in "Cold Pursuit" and "Made in Italy."

While Michael is making a name for himself as a talented actor, his younger brother has found his own way in life. Daniel initially wanted to follow his father and his older sibling into the entertainment industry, studying acting and digital media at Tulane University.

With his focus more on film production, Daniel explored what the industry had to offer but unexpectedly chose to start a clothing brand instead. The young man commented on his career choices, saying he would never have expected to end up where he is, but he's glad to be making a difference. He commented on his clothes:

"I would say Pine Outfitters is kind of a mix between Burton and Lululemon. So we want to have that fun snowboarder bro [tone] but also deliver a very classy style of clothing."

Neeson has spoken highly of his sons in the past, saying he's delighted with the men they've become. He noted that their mom would have been proud to see how civil his boys have turned out to be. He reflected on how he and his wife chose to raise their sons, saying, "The thing Tasha and I really wanted to instill in them was manners."

Neeson also noted that he always wanted them to know that he would be there for them in every situation. Being a single father has had its challenges, but Neeson commented, "I think they do know that I'll always be there, no matter what happens." It seems the dad's sacrifices and efforts weren't in vain.