Liam Neeson’s Top 10 Most Memorable On-Screen Deaths

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Over the span of nearly four decades in his acting career, Liam Neeson has gained a reputation for frequently portraying tough characters who inevitably cause the death of one or more individuals. However, it’s just as common to see Neeson’s characters in perilous situations where they face being shot, and unfortunately, many of these characters don’t make it through. Although Neeson may not be as infamous for on-screen character deaths as actors like Sean Bean, the occurrence is significant enough to warrant a list of some of his most memorable demises.

10
‘A Prayer for the Dying’ (1987)

In one of his earliest film roles, Neeson stars alongside Mickey Rourke as two IRA members and close friends whose lives are drastically changed when Rourke’s character, Martin Fallon, abruptly decides to leave behind his life of violence and terrorism. When Fallon refuses to kill a priest (Bob Hoskins) who witnessed his final killing, the IRA sends Liam Docherty (Neeson) to London to persuade Fallon to return to Ireland and the IRA, with orders to kill Fallon if he refuses again. However, despite Fallon’s second refusal, Docherty cannot bring himself to kill his friend. As punishment, the IRA orders Siobhan (Alison Doody), a younger IRA member who accompanied Docherty to London to meet with Fallon, to kill Docherty. She promptly shoots him in the head in their London apartment.

This Neeson death stands out for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Siobhan’s betrayal of Docherty foreshadows Doody’s more famous role as an equally duplicitous and traitorous Nazi collaborator in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, released just a couple of years later. Secondly, it is one of the few instances where a Neeson character is killed not in the middle of a battle or fight – he is just outright murdered. Even though he is a terrorist, one cannot help but feel sorry for Docherty for being killed because he followed his conscience.

9
‘Wrath of the Titans’ (2012)

The idea of a Greek deity perishing might appear contradictory, but that’s exactly the path this overlooked sequel to the poorly received 2010 film “Clash of the Titans” takes. Just like in the original, Liam Neeson portrays none other than Zeus, who discovers that he and the other gods are gradually losing their power and immortality because the mortal population isn’t praying enough, enabling the trapped Titans to break free. This eventuality leads Zeus into a war against his own brother, Hades (Ralph Fiennes), and son, Ares (Édgar Ramírez) to prevent the Titans from seizing power. Perseus (Sam Worthington), his demigod son, assists him in this endeavor. Despite Zeus and Hades eventually making peace, Zeus is ultimately fatally wounded by Ares. Before turning into stone, he manages to share a few poignant words with Perseus.

This version maintains the original’s essence while providing a more fluid and easy-to-understand reading experience.

It’s not the first or second time Liam Neeson has portrayed a heroic father figure who speaks to his son before a battle, only to die. In fact, both “Gangs of New York” (2002) and “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005) have scenes reminiscent of this in their initial acts with Neeson starring. Although these two films are often regarded as superior, “Wrath of the Titans” is included here because it offers a unique twist: Liam Neeson plays a mortal Greek god.

8
‘The Mission’ (1986)

In Neeson’s initial acting phase, a historical drama found him portraying a Catholic priest who collaborates with Jeremy Irons and Robert De Niro to safeguard a Jesuit mission nestled deep within Paraguayan jungles from invasive Spanish and Portuguese colonizers. These forces aimed not just to convert the Guaraní inhabitants, but also to seize the mission and enslave them. However, their defense proves fruitless as all three main characters, along with many of the Guaraní living there, meet their tragic end at the hands of the colonial troops.

In the movie, Liam Neeson has a less central role compared to Jeremy Irons and Robert De Niro, but his death scene is intense. Towards the end of the film, a priest and several Guaraní warriors embark on a canoe equipped with rifles and arrows, aiming to protect the mission from colonial soldiers. A Portuguese general and his troops follow Neeson and the Guaraní in their own canoe. The priest, Fr. Fielding, is tragically killed by the Portuguese forces, but his fellow Guaraní warriors keep paddling until they reach a waterfall, forcing their pursuers to follow them, resulting in disaster for the Portuguese troops. Despite the film perpetuating white-savior stereotypes and focusing more on its white characters than the Guaraní perspective, this scene remains memorable due to its fast-paced tension and Neeson’s selfless act of heroism.

7
‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ (2005)

In this film version of C.S. Lewis’s initial Narnia novel, Liam Neeson portrays Aslan, the lion who brought Narnia into being. When the army of the White Witch (Tilda Swinton), pursuing Edmund (Skandar Heynes), one of the four kids who enter Narnia through a wardrobe, Aslan offers himself as a sacrifice to her. Despite her slaying him in full view of her troops, Aslan is revived and reappears in the decisive battle scene to vanquish the White Witch and safeguard Narnia. The narrative arc of Aslan serves as a clear tribute to the biblical story of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, further emphasized by Aslan’s declaration after defeating the White Witch: “It is finished.

In a distinct manner, Aslan’s demise in the list stands out for two noteworthy reasons. Firstly, Liam Neeson only provided the voice for this character on the list (the lion is computer-generated). Secondly, Aslan’s death isn’t permanent; he returns to life within the film. Some might argue it’s a loophole, but since Neeson’s character dies at some point during the movie, I believe it’s still valid.

6
‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’ (2014)

Discussing standout moments, one of the most hilarious death scenes occurs in Seth MacFarlane’s Western comedy, where Liam Neeson, portraying a villainous bandit named Clinch Leatherwood, delivers an amusing twist. Married to Anna, played by Charlize Theron, Clinch confronts MacFarlane’s character, Albert, after noticing his affection for Anna. In a duel, Albert shoots Clinch with a venom-laced bullet, planning to boast about it. However, before he can, Sarah Silverman’s character interrupts, announcing that Clinch had already perished, making Albert’s grand monologue unnecessary. This scene deserves recognition for Neeson’s willingness to satirize his tough-guy image, despite the film being somewhat juvenile and easily forgettable.

5
‘Michael Collins’ (1996)

Nine years following “A Prayer for the Dying”, Neeson reprised his role as a member of the IRA, but this time portraying a historical figure. Michael Collins was a significant revolutionary leader during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War from 1919 to 1922. He served both as a military commander for the IRA and a government official in the newly independent Irish Free State. Tragically, he was murdered at age 31 by fellow IRA members who disagreed with the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty, which Collins supported and enabled Ireland to gradually achieve independence from Great Britain.

In the film, although the true circumstances surrounding Collins’s actual assassination remain uncertain, it suggests that his fellow revolutionary and future Irish President Éamon de Valera (portrayed by Alan Rickman) may have played a role in the ambush due to his resentment towards Collins for endorsing the Treaty. As Collins was being escorted to West Cork to reconcile with de Valera, his group is purposely led onto a roadblock instead. There, de Valera’s assassins fire upon him. The movie heightens the sorrow of Collins’s murder by intercutting between the gunfire and Kitty Kiernan (Julia Roberts), who is unknowingly trying on wedding dresses, oblivious to her future husband’s demise. This emotionally charged scene, which is grounded in reality and leaves many questions unanswered, delivers a powerful impact.

4
‘The Grey’ (2011)

Apart from maybe the Taken series, no film more accurately captures the rough and weary persona that Liam Neeson often portrays in his acting career than The Grey (2011). John Ottway, our protagonist, carries a somber demeanor, bears the weight of a tragic family history, and, undeniably, possesses a unique skill set. In many ways, Ottway is the epitome of a Liam Neeson action hero. In this movie, Ottway and his fellow oil rig workers find themselves stranded after their plane crashes in the harsh, wolf-infested wilderness of Alaska. Led by Ottway, they navigate through the forest, but as time passes, each man meets his end due to either the wolves or the unforgiving environment, until only Ottway remains alive.

Towards the movie’s conclusion, Ottway discovers himself trapped in a den with wolves, specifically their alpha leader. Facing certain peril with only a knife and shards of glass as protection, Ottway courageously charges at the alpha wolf. The screen goes dark before the title sequence begins. However, once the credits finish, there’s a post-credits scene where we see a poem by Ottway’s father about “the last good fight” displayed onscreen, followed by an image of Ottway’s head resting against the alpha wolf’s body, suggesting they are both near death. The screen fades to black again, leaving us uncertain about Ottway’s ultimate destiny.

At the end of the movie, although Ottway technically survives, it could be seen as questionable to call this a “death scene.” In reality, given his dire situation – presumed to be gravely injured from his battle with the alpha wolf and with virtually no hope of rescue – one might say he’s already (or soon will be) dead. However, the ending provides a sense of relief for the audience, as Ottway’s pain and despair are resolved, leaving him at last in a state of peace.

3
‘Batman Begins’ (2004)

In an unusual turn of events, Liam Neeson took on the villainous role of Bruce Wayne’s former mentor-turned-adversary, Ra’s al Ghul, in the initial installment of Christopher Nolan’s celebrated Dark Knight trilogy. As the head of the enigmatic League of Shadows, Ra’s, disguised as Henri Ducard, taught a young Bruce martial arts and fostered his ideology against corruption that would eventually shape his persona as Batman. However, Bruce chose to part ways with the league due to their conviction that Gotham City was irredeemable and should be destroyed. Years later, at Bruce’s birthday party, Ducard resurfaced, unmasking himself as Ra’s al Ghul. With assistance from the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) and a potent microwave device, Ra’s concocted a plan to disseminate a fear-inducing substance into the atmosphere, inciting mass panic throughout Gotham City.

The climactic battle between Batman and Ra’s al Ghul unfolds on a speeding monorail, which contains a device meant to drain Gotham’s water supply via microwave. In this thrilling confrontation, Batman manages to subdue Ra’s and forces him onto the train floor. However, instead of taking Ra’s life, Batman chooses to abandon him, allowing the speeding train to carry Ra’s towards a precipice where the tracks have been destroyed. This dramatic scene has sparked debate among Batman enthusiasts due to the character’s steadfast commitment to non-lethal force (a principle that Batman upholds consistently in the subsequent films). Furthermore, Liam Neeson’s portrayal of Ra’s al Ghul, which contrasts with his usual roles, has made this death scene one of the most impactful moments in Neeson’s career.

2
‘Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace’ (1999)

Despite receiving mixed reviews from both fans and critics, the film The Phantom Menace is notable for one standout scene: the climactic lightsaber battle between Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn (Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), and the Sith Lord Darth Maul (Ray Park). This sequence, characterized by intricate swordplay and an iconic John Williams composition titled “Duel of the Fates,” spans several minutes. The battle concludes with Darth Maul’s defeat at Obi-Wan’s hands, but not before he mortally wounds Qui-Gon with his distinctive red, double-edged lightsaber.

Among all the death scenes on this list, none seems to have left a more lasting impact on pop culture than this one. This scene is not only moving but also sets significant events in motion for the entire saga. In his final moments, Qui-Gon Jinn entrusts his young apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, with the responsibility of training Anakin Skywalker (played by Jake Lloyd). However, as we’re well aware, their bond eventually deteriorates, leading Anakin to embrace the Dark Side and transform into the feared Sith Lord Darth Vader. One can’t help but wonder if Qui-Gon’s untimely demise at the hands of Darth Maul prevented him from guiding Anakin more effectively, thereby helping him avoid the mistakes that led to his descent into darkness. Alas, we are left to speculate.

1
‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)

In this article, we discuss another compelling scene from Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning Holocaust masterpiece, “Schindler’s List,” where Liam Neeson’s character, Oskar Schindler, does not die onscreen but his portrayal of the death is so impactful that it warrants recognition. Based on real events, Schindler is a German entrepreneur and Nazi Party member who safeguards almost 1,100 Jewish individuals from deportation by employing them in his factory during World War II. After Germany’s surrender to the Allies, Schindler and his wife Emilie (Caroline Goodall) are compelled to escape the advancing Soviet Red Army, while the saved Jews remain behind to be liberated. Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), Schindler’s assistant, gifts him an engraved ring crafted by their workers before he departs and comforts Schindler as he emotionally expresses a desire to have rescued more people. The film concludes with an epilogue showing the actual surviving “Schindlerjuden” visiting Schindler’s grave in Israel, joined by the actors from the movie, including Kingsley and Neeson. Each actor places a stone on the grave, culminating in Neeson himself placing two roses on it.

As a dedicated cinephile, I firmly believe that this particular scene deserves the title of a “death scene,” as it subtly conveys the passing of Oskar Schindler, even though his on-screen demise isn’t portrayed. What sets this scene apart from others is its exceptional ability to encapsulate the profound influence and emotional weight of Liam Neeson’s character’s life and death, surpassing other films on this list in resonance.

Steven Spielberg’s masterful breach of the fourth wall serves as a poignant reminder that the events unfolding before our eyes were not merely a work of fiction but a true story, heightening the impact of the scene for the audience. Given the nature of this list, it seems fitting to award the top position to a scene that aims to etch itself deeply into our memories, long after the credits have rolled.

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2025-02-08 07:34