Liam Neeson Talks About The Impact His Wife's Sudden Passing Had On Him, Visits Her "Every Day At Her Grave"

Feb 12, 2022

At 71 years old, Irish actor Liam Neeson has done it all. From working as a truck driver in his early life to starring in hit film series "Star Wars," there seems to be nothing he can't do. He's been nominated for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, two Tony Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. In 2020, Neeson was listed at number 7 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's 50 greatest film actors.

Throughout his life and career, Neeson has seen his fair share of hardships and struggles. After all, being successful in the entertainment industry takes determination and grit. But there's one part of his life that has been the hardest for Neeson to overcome—the death of his wife. 

Neeson first met Natasha Richardson in 1993, when they were both cast in a Broadway rendition of Anna Christie. At the time, Richardson was married to producer Robert Fox. At the time, the couple was going through a divorce. 

Soon after the premiere of "Anna Christie," Neeson flew to Poland to begin shooting scenes from "Schindler's List." Neeson was worried that Richardson might forget about him, so he sent her a letter the day before her 30th birthday. 

Neeson was surprised when Richardson wrote back to ask, "This is like a letter from a buddy. What is our relationship?" Neeson said in an interview with the Daily News that this is when he knew he was in love with her. 

"That was when I knew I really loved this person," he said. "I thought, 'This is real and genuine and is something that has to be protected.'"

A Romance Of The Ages

After her letter, Richardson flew to Poland to join Neeson during filming. Over the next few months, the pair became inseparable.

Just one year after her divorce, Richardson agreed to marry Neeson. After he finished filming, they bought an 1810 farmhouse on a property in Millbrook, New York, which is where their wedding took place in July of 1994. 

Like any relationship, the couple was not without issues. Richardson told the Daily News that beginning her new life with Neeson was difficult due to both the public nature of her divorce and the rumors of an affair circulating from fans and the media. Still, she couldn't help how she felt about Neeson. Ultimately, their love was more important to her than anything else. 

"It was not an easy time when I met Liam," she said. "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."

The pair went on to have two children, Michael and Daniel. Michael was born in 1996, and Daniel was born only a year later. Both Richardson and Neeson continued their acting careers while raising their children together. 

The couple was public with their love for one another, frequently attending red carpet events together and posing for Paparazzi photos. It seemed they had the perfect marriage, and though they were both busy in their careers, they always made time for one another and their kids. 

Tragedy Strikes

In 2009, tragedy struck. Richardson was on a skiing trip with her oldest son in Quebec, Canada when she fell and hit her head. After the fall, Richardson turned down medical attention and went on about her day. She wasn't wearing a helmet. 

Three hours later, Richardson was rushed to the hospital. Neeson, who was in Toronto at the time, immediately flew out to see her.

When he arrived, he learned that his wife was on life support. Neeson said that though he didn't know if his wife could hear him, he told her that he loved her. 

Neeson said that he and his wife had made a pact—if one of them was no longer able to live a normal life, they would make the decision to let them go, no matter what. 

"She and I had made a pact. If any of us got into a vegetative state, we'd pull the plug. You know? So when I saw her and saw all these tubes and stuff, that was my immediate thought. Was, 'OK, these tubes have to go. She's gone,'" Neeson said in the same Daily News interview. 

Since his wife's death, Neeson has been vocal about how much he misses her. He said sometimes, he still expects her to walk through the door of their home like nothing has happened. 

"It was never real. It still kind of isn't," Neeson said. 

Though years have passed, Neeson's love for his late wife never faded. He said in an interview with The Inquirer that he visits her grave every day.

"I speak to her every day at her grave, which is about a mile and half down the road," Neeson said. "I go down there quite often, so I do speak to her as if she's here."

What do you think about Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson's tragic love story? Pass this on to the hopeless romantics in your life!