Liam Neeson would have never thought that just one moment will change the course of his life forever.
Life is unpredictable. We could never really know how much time we have with the people we love the most. So make every moment count.
When Liam Neeson opened up about the death of his wife and actress Natasha Richardson in 2016, he emphasized the importance of making your loved ones feel special. The couple tied the knot in 1994 and were together for 16 long years until The Comfort of Strangers actress passed away in 2009 after suffering a head injury following a skiing accident.
Ever since her passing, Neeson had mostly maintained a stoic silence and that says much about his shock and grief. He only talked about the unfortunate incident in 2016 in a moving and melancholic tribute to his late wife.
The Taken actor posted a heartfelt message on his Facebook page at the time. “They say the hardest thing in the world is losing someone you love…My wife died unexpectedly. She brought me so much joy. She was my everything. Those 16 years of being her husband taught me how to love unconditionally,” VIP Magazine quoted him. His Facebook profile is no longer available.
He went on to warn people about the downside of technology by saying that technology is consuming most of our days' time which we could spend with our loved ones. “We have to stop and be thankful for our spouses. Because, life is very short. Spend time with your spouses. Treat them well. Because, one day, when you look up from your phone, they won’t be there anymore,” he said.
He concludes his heartfelt tribute by imploring people to live life to the fullest and letting their loved ones know that you love them. “Take chances and go live life. Tell the ones you love, that you love them every day. Don’t take any moment for granted. Life is worth living.”
The deeply-in-love couple was known for their chemistry and commitment. They met when the two actors performed opposite each other in Anna Christie on Broadway in 1993. Richardson was married to producer Robert Fox at the time, but that didn't stop the sparks from flying between her and Neeson.
Reminiscing about the days when he used to perform with his wife, he had said to CBS back in 2014, "I’d never had that kind of explosive chemistry situation with an actor or actress," he said. "We just had this wonderful kind of dance-free dance on stage every night. She and I were like [Fred] Astaire and [Ginger] Rogers.” Her marriage soon fell apart and the two eventually confronted their feelings for each other.
Fast forward, after living a full life together and bringing two beautiful boys, Micheal and Daniel, in the world Richardson left the world quietly but Neeson barely recovered from the grief. “I was told she was brain dead… She was on life support and stuff," the actor said. "And I went in… and told her I loved her. I said, ‘Sweetie, you’re not coming back from this. You’ve banged your head. It’s – I don’t know if you can hear me, but that’s – this is what’s gone down,”' he told CBS.
His wife's passing left him in a permanent state of grief which even hindered his work and day-to-day life. However, as she passed away, she was registered as an organ donor and her heart, kidneys, and lives all went to people in need. He told CBS that she "would be very thrilled and pleased by that.”
When he opened up to his fans about his grief for the first time, it was evident that Neeson still misses her and probably he misses telling her that he loves her. It would not be wrong to say that his love story with Richardson is a reminder to all of us that we must cherish our spouses every single day.
References:
https://vipmagazine.ie/liam-neeson-posts-heartbreaking-tribute-to-his-late-wife/
https://www.countryliving.com/life/a45645/natasha-richardson-liam-neeson/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/liam-neeson-on-natasha-richardson-death-and-hollywood-success/
