Liam Neeson Calls Robin Williams 'Modern Shakespeare' and 'Genius'

Despite earning an Oscar nomination for his powerful performance in the deeply serious drama Schindler's List, Liam Neeson has proven himself quite capable in the comedy department. This year's Naked Gun reboot demonstrated just how well the Irish actor can handle humor, turning what many expected to be a complete flop into a surprisingly well-received film alongside Pamela Anderson and director Akiva Schaffer.

Anyone familiar with Neeson's memorable appearance on Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's Life's Too Short knows the actor possesses genuine comedic talent beneath his intimidating "I will find you and I will kill you" persona. His deadpan "I have full blown AIDS" cameo became one of the show's most hilarious moments, with Neeson playing it completely straight while attempting to convince others he could handle more comedic roles.

Comedy Credentials Keep Growing

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane served as producer on the recent Naked Gun film and previously cast Neeson in A Million Ways to Die in the West in 2014 and Ted 2. The actor also provided his voice for The Lego Movie, adding to his growing list of successful comedic projects.

This comedy experience likely influenced Neeson's choice when discussing one of cinema's greatest funny films - the 1993 gender-swapping classic directed by Chris Columbus. Speaking to Letterboxd, Neeson shared his thoughts: "Mrs. Doubtfire springs to mind. And the outtakes were extraordinary too. And they are part of the movie, too, actually in the credits."

A Taxi Ride With Genius

Neeson went on to share a remarkable memory of the late Robin Williams, who tragically took his own life in 2014: "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."

Though the two actors never collaborated professionally, their careers remained connected in fascinating ways. During the emotionally draining production of Schindler's List, Steven Spielberg would often rely on Williams to call and lift Neeson's spirits during the difficult filming process.

Career Connections and Future Projects

Interestingly, one of Williams' most celebrated roles in 1989's Dead Poets Society was originally offered to Neeson, who reportedly was the first choice for the part. However, he declined the opportunity, later reflecting: "Robin was great... That was the right casting." Williams' performance ultimately earned him an Oscar nomination, proving Neeson's assessment correct.

Meanwhile, Neeson continues working at his typical breakneck pace with approximately eight different projects in various production stages. These include a pandemic thriller titled Cold Storage featuring Stranger Things star Joe Keery, a typical Neeson-style thriller called Hotel Tehran, and The Mongoose alongside Ving Rhames and Marisa Tomei. This action thriller, filmed in Australia, follows a decorated war veteran falsely accused of a crime who leads police on a nationwide chase while his former unit members and the public rally behind him.