Liam Neeson Recalls an Unusual Encounter He Had with Nicolas Cage and Rod Steiger

Liam Neeson talks about working with Ciarán Hinds for In the Land of Saints and Sinners, how he failed at being a teacher before becoming an actor and an odd interaction he had backstage at an awards event with Nicolas Cage and the late Rod Steiger.
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Liam Neeson Recalls an Unusual Encounter He Had with Nicolas Cage and Rod Steiger - Late Night with Seth Meyers
• Liam Neeson Recalls an...
Late Night with Seth Meyers
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[@alistairmscott]

I met Liam Neeson once at Heathrow airport in London. Just after the first Taken movie had come out. We had a little chat about it. He was so gracious ans down to earth. Told me the thought taken would be a straight to DVD bargain basement movie and had no real expectations of it. He was so appreciative of the people who made it a huge hit. Shook my hand and thanked me for watching it. Absolute gentleman.

[@karenling2106]

his first and only appearance

[@Backpfeifengesicht45]

Liam Neeson, Colm Meaney and Kerry Condon in one movie. Sold.

[@Barqu3ntine]

And Ciarán Hinds!

[@southsidejohnny5624]

@@Barqu3ntineLiam’s oldest friend in acting. They go waaaaay back.

[@delta5297]

I was like "where have I heard that voice before...oh yeah, Miles O'Brien!"

[@BasesLoadedLacquer]

liam neeson has been through some things & it's so nice to see him smiling & happy. i hope that he's truly well. 💙 he's a legend & i hope that he knows how well-regarded & loved he is.

[@slyasleep]

Yeah, I hope he knows how loved he is, and that he can take pleasure in that. Not everybody can.

[@jeffsilverman6104]

Liam is a gem, I always smile all through his interviews.

[@khallo151]

Liam Neeson can read me a story any time. That voice while reading a scrap of paper was delicious.

[@celinadavies]

Greetings 😊 If you want delicious....watch the movie Rob Roy!! Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange are magical. The whole movie is phenomenal for the historical accuracy, filming and the whole cast. One of my favorite scenes is of Liam's character McGregor wading out of the ice cold lake after bathing and makes his way to his marital bed where his beautiful wife is sleeping.....sublime. And so very very delicious...sigh 🥰 I'm thankful I've owned the DVD for years. Please enjoy your day. 🌹🇨🇦

[@bebbychad7607]

​@celinadavies oh wow! I must see if I can get a copy! 😮❤

[@debbiedefiestheoddsdebm9604]

😂😂delicious ❤❤it.

[@troll-fx2zc]

Somebody's panties got wet, huh

[@beaudwayful]

Rob Roy is really good. Great sword fight in it as well. @@celinadavies

[@TC_here]

Liam Neeson can transform from scary to funny and back to scary in a instant.. that would be a terrifying teacher :)

[@AffectionateAstroStation-lx5is]

Most of the Nuns were like that in our schools in Ireland. No wonder we drink so much.

[@HappyCrone]

Can never get enough of that northern Irish accent. ❤

[@khallo151]

Definitely could tell it was Colm Meaney from the first word. Two of my favorite actors ❤

[@Elwaves2925]

Yep, as soon as I heard the voice, I immediately knew it was Colm Meaney. Which as I'm doing a rewatch of DS9 is kinda appropriate timing.

[@barkergirl33]

I absolutely adore Liam and he has such a wonderful sense of humor. Great guest, really enjoyed it.

[@bluesquirrel3919]

Mr. Neeson ages like a fine wine.

[@karenling2106]

this is the only apperance

[@mjw12345]

Seth is always so warm with his Irish guests, so well informed but he's the same with all!

[@user-pt9yb4hp1d]

Liam is a Legend

[@Johns-co8oz]

HappyLeim Neeson,dallas❤

[@Johns-co8oz]

IAM STILL HERE.NOTHING HAS CHANGED,WITH ME.HAVE PRACTIally gone mad.

[@celluloid-dreamer]

I don't blame Liam Neeson or Nicolas Cage for not knowing it at the time, but the importance of Rod Steiger showing them a photo of the father he had never met was of great personal significance to Steiger. His father's absence was a burden he carried throughout his entire life, which manifested in bouts of depression and other troubles. Although it was an awkward encounter for Neeson and Cage, I found Steiger's excitement in seeing a photo of his father for the very first time, and his wanting to share it with his fellow actors, touching.

[@Free420Love]

Thanks for this context! Appreciate it. Sad but sweet. I wonder where/when he got the photo, and why he had it backstage?

[@celluloid-dreamer]

​@Free420Love No problem! And I would love to know that, as well. His father was a vaudeville song-and-dance man who left right after Rod was born. As far as I knew, he only had a description of what his father looked like, so evidently he finally came into possession of a photo at some point. I did a little bit of research, and all three (Steiger, Neeson, and Cage) were at the 1997 Golden Globes, so that could have been when this encounter happened.

[@mpsymonds1]

Interesting to hear the story behind the reason Steiger was carrying the photo at that time. There is always a reason.

[@deeheart9988]

I didn't find out who my father was until I was 65. He'd already passed. I know exactly how he felt. It was a hole in my soul for many years.

[@karenling2106]

this is his first appearance

[@jeffleason327]

Mr. Neeson is a very talented and funny man. A true gem!

[@edsyphan3425]

Such a humble, talented man.

[@xenijagrunschnabel7766]

I wish I could meet him. Such a great actor and a nice man. It's on my bucket list. :D

[@Elwaves2925]

He plays a lot of serious characters, so it's always great to see him light and humorous.

[@busdriver428]

Liam Neeson is an actor I thought I didn't like while in my twenties. Then I grew up. How could I have been so wrong?! Even if I hadn't liked a movie he was in, he was always amazing!!

[@redmist78]

This movie was online 3 months ago. Saw it. Loved it. Probably his best if not ONE of his best.

[@JoeO.]

Name dropping Rod Steiger pulled me in and now I’m late for work.

[@ElonsDiamondMine]

I love that you made yourself even later just to comment! #worthit

[@JoeO.]

@@ElonsDiamondMine it’s all about priorities…

[@bvandyke10]

How could you not love Liam Neeson?

[@EdwardLindon]

Well, if you thought that his decision to open up about having had urges to murder entirely innocent Black men was ill-advised, you might be less keen.

[@spacegerrit9499]

@@EdwardLindon Leaving out some nuances there, tiger.

[@jamesmflynn]

Yup. Nothing like a comment without context, eh? People like @EdwardLindon are the reason the Internet sucks so much.

[@LollieVox]

Love seeing that picture of Liam when he was young. What a cutie!

[@bonniejosavland3227]

Love Liam ❤❤❤

[@karenling2106]

debuting on the show please welcome liam neeson everybody

[@gabrielmugisha3196]

Love this dudes movies

[@dewimatthews]

‘I wish they would have picked a more Irish name’ 😅

[@ElonsDiamondMine]

I guess Guinness McPotatofamine was taken!

[@dave210yt]

love Seth, still waiting for Cicada, Cicada!

[@teresapaskell5459]

Great actor

[@nickinderrieden7630]

Liam is certified badass, but so is Colm.

[@TrekCannon]

Darkman and Chief O'Brien in the same movie! I'm there😂

[@alistairmscott]

Darkman is a batshit mental movie that everyone should watch at least once.

[@jamesmflynn]

Darkman is so bloody good.

[@DNTXPCTMCH]

I barely like my own children. There is no way I could be trapped in a room with other people's children all day. Teachers are heroes.

[@MELTESSY]

I hear you 😂, I did 4 years back in the day and gave up teaching (14yo )

[@Free420Love]

Both of my parents are recently retired teachers, taught for 40 years. Mom taught young 5’s in the afternoon and Kindergarten in the morning, had to do two different sets of curriculum, activities, everything. Dad was high school math and computers. They were both miserable for the last 10 years, though - because of the PARENTS. They’ve gotten so far out of control, and the administrators are afraid to step in to protect the teachers from parents that are absolute bullies and literally walk in and out of the classroom like it’s their house and disrupt the entire classroom on a regular basis, throw fits & threaten teachers who have to have necessary conversations with them about behavior that is disruptive and sometimes harmful to other students. Really became a nightmare. My mom came home crying regularly. More & more teachers are retiring early or leaving to find other jobs after teaching for decades, and having to start all over in a new career in their 40s, 50s, +, because they can’t take the stress and pressure from the parents anymore, and the lack of support from administrators and the school districts. It’s sad, and soo unfair. My mom had to buy all of the supplies for her kids’ classroom for the last 20 years of teaching too, every year, all the teachers did, and that’s the thanks they got.

[@DNTXPCTMCH]

I try to be as nice as possible to my kids teachers. I bake them muffins and write thank you notes because I know I could never do what they do

[@jeanneratterman4174]

First time I saw Liam was in HIGH SPIRITS. He was wonderful! What a great sense of humor. He does drama like nobody’s business. 😍👍🏼👍🏼

[@anneshirley3786]

High Spirits! Classic! (Or, should be)

[@indigentphd]

Me too! Or was it Mystic Pizza? Brain is Old these days.

[@Icelandlover]

Wow. Seth is a great interviewer. Genuine an well prepared....and he listens.

[@JonnyDIY]

The way Seth always wraps the interview up so quickly there at the end 🤣🤦‍♂️ Liam needed morrrre time!!!!

[@Moekoffee2001]

I have posters of Leslie Nielsen AND Liam Neeson, none of Seth yet

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

don't miss his eastern bunny audition😂

[@NewMessage]

If I met Nicolas Cage and didn't consider it weird, I'd feel ripped off.

[@jcg2922]

Oh man, I can totally see Liam Neeson doing deadpan comedy in a new Naked Gun film.

[@DNTXPCTMCH]

Please have Liam on your Family Trips podcast

[@melindaschwenk-borrell9374]

I love that he's great friends with another actor I love, Ciaran Hinds

[@Jogwheel]

3:39 _"Synopsis"_ Okay, tell me he won't totally crush the Naked Gun remake with line-deliveries like this.

[@stillfab]

One of my favorite Actor. Like him on "Taken" .....

[@JoJo_Mariee]

This movie was filmed in my area. I am so proud of such a talented actor...my favorite and always will be a fan!

[@paulbromley6687]

I have been close to a few famous or well known people in my time but I think the most respectful thing you can do is be polite and let them be, acknowledge them but don’t burden them with how you are their biggest fan. Smile and stay at a distance they really will appreciate it. Sean Bean did when I saw him in a Railway station ticket office. I’ve made a point of it since my Dad told me long ago let them have a normal life.

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

Your Dad raised you right. Sadly celebrity worship seems to be getting worse than ever especially since social medias existence. I'm not blaming social media as its a good thing as well. I think some people seem to think that all actors want attention but the truth is every one of them is different in terms of their personality but each like us deserves the right to privacy

[@Ellierua]

Liam bringing his synopsis has to be the new way things are done from now on...

[@nancydemoss2945]

Especially if Liam reads them! His voice is mesmerizing. (Heavy sigh)

[@margmcmillan]

Today watched Schindler’s List, wow truly thought provoking . I found myself crying at the end. Liam’s acting should have won an award. It was a movie expressing every human mood, from greed, lust, love , understanding of no guilt, all capabilities, for every human desire . Do not believe I will remain the same. Kindly let him,know my appreciation of his talent.

[@mr.bayless]

I'm very excited to see him in Naked Gun. I think he has the chops to really have fun with it!

[@theguitarjohnshow]

Liam is absolutely amazing such a great actor

[@sharonhollock3040]

Liam Neeson is so FOXY.He is my favorite actor by far.He only gets better with age.KUDOS!

[@bengaltigers777]

Liam Neeson is a Great actor probably one of the best around today .

[@pierrelalonde3705]

Liam is pretty cool and he has a good sense of humor.

[@terryandrews3204]

I really enjoyed this interview ❤

[@RebeccaEdwardsJamesEdwards]

Love Liam! Great, fun interview Seth!

[@sarahcowan1489]

Liam Neeson gets better looking with age, hes so beautiful and funny ❤️

[@classactsexpertiseandinspi4815]

What Liam was too gallant to mention regarding that John Boorman epic Excalibur film that he shared with Ciaran Hinds and Gabriel Byrne, was that was where he met one of the loves of his life with whom he lived for 4 years - Helen Mirren. He told the tale (on Graham Norton show) of both he and Ciaran Hinds seeing her dressed as Morgana le Fay walking across the set towards him and uttering an expletive, he was lost.

[@DNTXPCTMCH]

My kids are super into Lego movie. I love hearing Liam being silly

[@verdatum]

Oh Jeez. I was a twelve year old kid who fast-forwarded through Excalibur in search of nudity. Literally the only other thing I remember about the film was thinking, wow, why is everyone's armor so ridiculous-shiny?

[@temporaladvisor3958]

That Weekend Update sketch with Neeson and Samberg was prescient. Samberg as Nicolas Cage called Liam Neeson Leslie Nielson, not knowing all those years ago that Neeson would be playing the Nielson role in the upcoming Naked Gun reboot.

[@Kitty8791]

Samberg basically manifested the Naked Gun reboot for Liam Neeson by doing that SNL Weekend Update sketch.

[@doloreswylie3067]

Love this guy….authentic.

[@user-po6je9np4x]

I'm happy after watching that. Thank you

[@beasleydad]

🎉Colm across from Liam Neeson was musical 🎉

[@kforest2745]

Lmao “count me out” meanwhile hands him the bullet

[@slyasleep]

Liam Neeson saying „What is this about??“ made my day. I may make this my ringtone!

[@slyasleep]

A question asked much, much too rarely.

[@lashendawest7509]

We love liam neeson

[@leticiacervantesgarcia1945]

Ay!!! Guapérrimo, hermoso. Que personalidad tiene en mi país no los hay de ese calibre. Con tido respeto. Me encanta Liam Neeson.

[@nannerz1994]

I need him to host SNL again

[@primis82]

I was waiting for the Kiv mention and got a bonus Andy mention 🥰

[@shadowprince4482]

I wonder if Liam has heard Seth MacFarlane's Kermit The Frog Taken line. Oddly enough it's one of the few voices I myself can do. Always a crowd pleaser at a party.

[@plissken2156]

2:47 - That's high praise.

[@travisinthetrunk]

He IS funny.

[@user-ow4hn5pu7z]

My favorite❤

[@JimNortonsAlcoholism]

Good to see Chief O'Brian in a new movie

[@cq9882]

Stop interrupting Liam. Let it just flow. Liam brilliant 😂🤣🇦🇺

[@CamiloSanchez1979]

Liam is amazing.

[@ivarlarsen6045]

Great movie

[@chanang453]

he was great playing the Irish hero Michael Collins

[@bossmare1480]

OMG Liam Neeson is freakin hilarious.😂😂😂😂 I can't wait to see him in the Naked Gun remake. 💖💖💖🇨🇦😎

[@imsteamboat9774]

That is mother f*ckin Qui Gon Jinn

[@candacen7779]

I can't imagine being 11 years old and seeing a man who looks like Liam Neeaon walking into my classroom to teach for the day. I would've been intimidated as hell. Those Newcastle kids must've been tough as nails.

[@ljhoats]

He was great!

[@realityjunky]

OMG I remember that SNL skit, live!

[@onlyme219]

I really liked Liam on this 👍

[@Mario-Loco683]

Liam making his Talk Show rounds.... will he be on The Breakfast Club?!? 😂

[@drtmuir]

What a darling man 👀😍❤️❤️❤️

[@NP-sr4wu]

My Liam 🥰

[@ianmccown]

“I’d like to ask a few questions about this breakfast cereal.”

[@AvidCat5000]

A fan since Darkman. 🤘 Brilliant actor.

[@DallasSantoni]

Ilove LEIM NEESON❤

[@julieokeefe7235]

Michael Collins is still my favorite Liam Neeson movie

[@Bjin1900]

💙💙💙. Liam, a True Hero 💙💙💙

[@Apollo440]

Liam Neesons! You gotta see Key & Peel's take on his movie success.

[@jamesyoungquist6923]

Miles O'Brien is really getting into those holodeck adventures

[@naomilu9910]

Hey! That was fun! :D Hi Liam!!

[@deborahwilson4684]

1st time I saw him was on Miami Vice. He came to America to assassinate someone. He & Gina fell in love. She had no clue he was a killer. Good episode.

[@tabbyaspen8872]

Liam's hair was very pretty.

[@dianeblumenthal5951]

I love Liam Neeson. There I said it !!

[@YeeSoest]

LIAM NEESONS IS MY SHIZNIT !!!

[@antoniosantos-uy2ws]

best actor

[@user-ow4hn5pu7z]

Он очень стильный😊

[@BansheeMilk]

He is definitely going to go into comedy and do Naked Gun

[@ChandraMalone-cy1tg]

Love ya 😂

[@gado6438]

You didn't let him finish his Rod Steiger story.