MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

Liam Neeson called raising his sons a ‘joyful worry’ as he prioritized them over grieving for wife Natasha Richardson’s death

Liam Neeson and his late wife, actress Natasha Richardson, had a blissful marriage and he adores their two sons

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Liam Neeson has regularly been seen on our screens for years and he has a long list of successful movies to his credit, including the 'Taken' franchise and 'The Chronicles of Narnia'. Despite having a demanding acting career, Liam has always prioritized the needs of his family and his loved ones. Among them was actress Natasha Richardson, his loving wife whom he adored and was devoted to. Natasha's sudden death left Liam in a dire situation. The actor found it difficult to live without her, but he persevered and raised his two sons. Natasha died in 2009 following an unfortunate ski slope accident in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec.

In the thrilling 'Taken' movie series, Liam portrayed an indomitable father, and the movie legend is just as devoted to his children in real life as well. Liam is happy to have shared parenthood with his cherished late wife Natasha Richardson and adores the two children he has with her, Michael Richardson and Daniel Neeson.

'It’s an ongoing joy being a dad'

Liam and Natasha, welcomed their first son, Michael Richardson, in 1995, and their second son, Daniel Neeson, over a year later, in 1996. The father of two did well in his new role as a parent, expressing his affection for his two sons. Being a father comes with its own set of difficulties and Liam frequently remarks on how much he thinks about his kids' futures. Liam has always been open about the parenting of his two sons throughout the years, frequently exclaiming his pride in them.

"It’s an ongoing joy being a dad. It’s always a joy, but it’s a joyful worry," the 'Taken' actor once said to Her magazine in 2013. "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," Liam added.

Despite their resilience, the actor's sons still had to adjust to life after their mother died. The oldest of Liam's two sons changed his last name to Richardson as a gesture to honor their mother. Liam acknowledged that despite the challenges of being a single father, his two sons are the most significant people in his life. The actor usually takes them out to watch ice hockey and is frequently spotted spending time with them.

Michael and Daniel were frequently spotted while they were growing up because their parents were two famous actors. They have not only attended numerous red carpet events with their parents over the years, such as the Broadway premiere of 'Billy Elliot the Musical' in November 2008 with Natasha, but they have also emulated the famous actor couple's actions.

Micheal Richardson was deeply devasted at his mother's death

Natasha passed away when Liam's sons were just 13 and 12 respectively. According to The List, their eldest son, Micheal appeared to be having more difficulty than his brother coping with his mother's death.

"I was putting [socializing] with my friends as my top priority," he admitted at the time. "Rock bottom was when I chose to miss classes to meet up with them, as well as not realizing that family and work come first," the actor said. After spending a month at a therapeutic camp in the wilderness of Utah, the young man was fortunate to get his life back on track.

In honor of his late mother, Micheal eventually changed his last name from Neeson to Richardson in 2018. In 2020, Liam said to Radio Andy, "I think he did the right thing. I’d hate for him to be constantly asked: ‘Oh are you Liam Neeson’s son?’ So, it was a lovely gesture. Natasha’s family, mother and sisters were very touched by it. I’m proud of it." Micheal spoke openly about his mother's death to The Times in March 2021, noting how it was particularly tough to deal with because it occurred unexpectedly.

Daniel Neeson runs a successful tequila brand

According to the New York Post, Daniel Neeson appeared to be following in his father Liam's footsteps when he chose to major in drama in college. Despite having graduated from Tulane University in 2019 according to his Instagram profile, Daniel never became an actor. Instead, he is using his acting abilities to market his ideas. Daniel also told the magazine that he and his mother would both be relieved that he is not an actor. He recalled his late mother, "She was always about 'don't ever feel like you have to be forced down a tunnel to fit in.'"

In contrast to his older brother Micheal Richardson, Daniel has chosen to run a profitable tequila company named DE-NADA rather than pursue a career in acting. The 26-year-old and his longtime partner, marketing expert Natalie Ackerman, reside in New York.