Liam Neeson’s son adopts tragic mum’s name ‘to keep her close’
MOST people whose father is a Hollywood star would be desperate to use his name to their advantage. But Liam Neeson’s son Micheal has dropped his illustrious surname to adopt that of his beloved late mother, Natasha Richardson.
Her mother, the celebrated actress Vanessa Redgrave, reveals: ‘He’s taken, officially, the name of his mother. He’s Micheal Richardson, not Micheal Neeson.’
Oscar-winner Redgrave, 81, explains: ‘That wasn’t because he wanted to avoid his father’s fame, which is enormous. He wanted to hold his mother close to him — because she was a remarkable actress. Absolutely remarkable.’
Micheal was just 13 years old when his mother died after hitting her head while they were on a skiing holiday in Canada in 2009.
Natasha, who had appeared in Hollywood films such as The Parent Trap and Maid In Manhattan, was taking a beginner’s skiing lesson when the accident happened, and died later in hospital in New York at the age of 45.
Theatre lights were dimmed in the West End and on Broadway as a mark of respect.
Redgrave says she approves of Micheal’s decision. ‘Our quaint customs dictate we have to have a male name. I don’t object. Why not? It’s as good as any.’
It is understood that Natasha’s younger son with Liam, Daniel, 22, will keep using the name of his father, whose blockbusters include the Taken series and Schindler’s List.
Micheal has gone into the family business and is forging a career as an actor, but has not yet given an interview.
This summer, I reported that he had crowd-funded an online film series called On Our Way, in which he appeared under his new moniker.
One episode, Entree Des Artistes, echoed Micheal’s past as he played a young man trying to come to terms with the death of his mother.