Liam Neeson's Two Sons: Meet Micheál and Daniel
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- UPDATED June 25, 2025
by Kristine Bowman
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Liam Neeson’s sons are all grown up now — but they still cherish time spent with their famous dad.
The Taken star shares two children with his late wife, actress Natasha Richardson: Micheál Neeson, born in 1995, and Daniel Neeson, born in 1996. Tragically, Natasha passed away in 2009 at the age of 45, when Micheál and Daniel were just 13 and 12.
Becoming a single father wasn’t something Liam expected, and he’s spoken candidly about the challenges — and deep rewards — of raising his boys. “It’s an ongoing joy being a dad. It’s always a joy, but it’s a joyful worry,” he told Her magazine in 2012. “No matter what age they are, they’re still going to be your little boy or your little girl. And you are a hostage to love.”
Following Natasha’s passing, Liam often relied on his mother-in-law, actress Vanessa Redgrave, to help care for the boys while he was filming. Both Micheál and Daniel were already used to their father’s demanding schedule, having grown up with him in the spotlight.
Micheál Neeson, Age 30
Liam and Natasha welcomed their first son, Micheál, on June 22, 1995, in Dublin.
Growing up on film sets came with unique experiences for Micheál, but watching his parents on screen wasn’t always easy—especially when it came to Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, in which Liam’s character, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, is killed.
“I watched all their movies, but it was kind of traumatizing at the age of 5 seeing my dad sliced in half by a lightsaber or blown up in an explosion—and also kissing somebody else,” Micheál shared during a 2021 appearance alongside Liam on The Graham Norton Show.
He did get a sweet moment on set, though. Liam fondly recalled to ScreenRant how 2-year-old Micheál walked right up to R2-D2 and gave the droid a hug—something he called “just so cute.”
In 2015, Micheál opened up to The Sunday Times about how he coped with the loss of his mother. “In my mind, subconsciously, I either pushed it out or stored it deep inside. And so, within the next week I was like, ‘Okay, on with my life,’” he said. But grief caught up with him later. “Things just started going downhill. The group I was with, we were partying a lot. It was dark. I hit rock bottom.”
Though he eventually stepped into acting, Micheál originally pursued fashion. He interned on Savile Row and at Celine, later working as a fashion gallery curator. He made the transition to film with roles in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), Vox Lux (2018), and the series Big Dogs (2020).
He’s also shared the screen with his father in two films: Cold Pursuit (2019) and Made in Italy (2020). Liam emphasized that Micheál wasn’t handed the roles out of favoritism. “We didn’t have to pretend to have a relationship, do you know what I mean?” he told The Irish Post. “Micheál is my son and he has got some of my body language and I have got some of his, so I think that comes across… It was just having a regular conversation with your boy.”
Daniel Neeson, Age 28
Liam and Natasha welcomed their younger son, Daniel, on August 27, 1996, in New York City. He attended Fordham Prep for high school and later graduated from Tulane University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in theater and digital media production, according to his LinkedIn.
In 2017, while still a junior in college, Daniel launched Pine Outfitters—an eco-conscious, charitable clothing brand. He spoke to WWD that July about the inevitable assumptions that came with it, acknowledging, “It’s a big cliché… another celebrity son doing a fashion line.”
Still, the brand was personal, and he had strong support at home. His dad proudly wore pieces from the collection and even gave the line a plug during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark. “He’s not just a supportive father,” Daniel said, “he’s been very supportive in terms of the business as well.”
Interestingly, fashion wasn’t where Daniel saw himself early on. “It was honestly the last industry I thought I’d end up in,” he shared. “I was a massive athlete. I loved to play sports like hockey, soccer, tennis, and football. I always wanted to be a producer in the entertainment industry—or a hockey player.”
The Neeson men have long bonded over sports. Daniel has often been spotted cheering on the New York Rangers alongside Liam and his brother, including at a 2016 game against the Boston Bruins and again in 2019, decked out in a Rangers jersey and coat. The trio has also been seen courtside at New York Knicks games over the years.
While Daniel tends to keep a lower profile than his brother when it comes to speaking publicly about their late mother, he did share a touching tribute in 2018 on Instagram to mark the ninth anniversary of Natasha’s passing. Alongside a photo of her, he wrote: “9 years stronger. No one’s ever gone, they become more alive. Don’t bitch to your moms because they’re super heroes.”
