Liam Neeson Hails Robin Williams as a True Genius

Liam Neeson, often seen as the bloke for serious roles—think Schindler’s List, which is about as heavy as it gets—has shown he’s got a real knack for comedy too. This year’s much-hyped Naked Gun reboot could’ve easily missed the mark, given how tricky it is to land a good laugh these days without ruffling feathers. But with Neeson, Pamela Anderson, and director Akiva Schaffer at the helm, the film turned out to be a solid, well-received update of the Leslie Nielsen classic. Anyone who caught Neeson’s cameo on Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s Life’s Too Short would know he’s got comic timing under that tough exterior. His deadpan delivery in the infamous ‘I have full blown AIDS’ scene is still talked about as one of the show’s funniest moments, with Neeson playing it straight while trying to convince the others he’s keen to do more comedy, only to be met with awkward silence.

Seth McFarlane, the bloke behind Family Guy, produced the new Naked Gun and previously cast Neeson in A Million Ways to Die in the West back in 2014, as well as in the bear-filled comedy Ted 2. Neeson’s also lent his voice to The Lego Movie, showing he’s more than comfortable taking the mickey out of himself. There’s plenty of proof he can handle a laugh as well as a punch.

Remembering Robin Williams

Maybe it’s this appreciation for a good joke that shapes Neeson’s pick for one of the funniest films ever made—a 1993 classic directed by Chris Columbus. He told Letterboxd,

“Mrs. Doubtfire springs to mind. And the outtakes were extraordinary too. And they are part of the movie, too, actually in the credits.”

Neeson also shared a memorable story about Robin Williams:

“I once shared a taxi with Robin (Williams) and a few other actors. And he started rapping on some politician. And I remember thinking this is maybe what Shakespeare would have been like. Just this incredible stuff pouring out of his brain and his mouth. He was a genius.”

Connections and Missed Opportunities

Although Neeson and Williams never worked together on screen, their careers often crossed paths. While Steven Spielberg was making Schindler’s List, the experience was so intense that he’d ring up Williams for a bit of comic relief. There’s also the story that Neeson was the original choice for the lead in Dead Poets Society, a role that eventually went to Williams. Neeson later said,

“Robin was great… That was the right casting”.

Williams’ performance earned him an Oscar nomination, cementing his place in film history.

What’s Next for Neeson

Neeson isn’t slowing down any time soon, with about eight projects on the go. He’s starring in a pandemic thriller called Cold Storage alongside Joe Keery from Stranger Things, a classic Neeson-style action flick called Hotel Tehran, and The Mongoose, which features Ving Rhames and Marisa Tomei. The latter, shot in Australia, follows a decorated war hero wrongly accused of a crime, leading to a wild cross-country chase as his old mates and the public cheer him on.