The actors also worked on “Schindler’s List” together, and for Richardson’s 30th birthday, Neeson sent her a card and wrote, “You are catching up on me. Lots of love, Oskar” which was the name of his character in the film.

The actress was not impressed with his gesture and even felt confused about what it meant for them as a couple. So Richardson responded, “This is like a letter from a buddy. What is our relationship?”

Neeson did not have to ask himself twice; it became instantly clear that he loved and cared for Richardson. He realized what they shared was special and needed to be protected, so later that summer, in 1994, the couple got married.

Unfortunately, the star had to endure the tragedy of unexpectedly losing his wife to a skiing accident in 2009. The actress suffered a fatal head injury that left her brain dead.

The actor remembered arriving at the hospital in Canada, and the doctor told him the swelling in Richardson’s brain was too severe for her to survive.

His wife was on life support, but he still told her that she had hit her head and would not be coming back, then kissed her and said he loved her.

Neeson also revealed that he and Richardson had agreed that if one of them had to live on machines, they should pull the plug. However, the actor waited a bit before pulling the plug to give his wife’s family a chance to say their last goodbyes.

Three of her organs were also donated, revealed Neeson. Her heart, liver, and kidney were able to save three other lives, which the then 70-year-old believed would be something Richardson would have appreciated.

Five years after the incident, Neeson had an interview with Anderson Cooper and admitted that it still did not feel real that his wife was gone. However, he had to stay strong for his two sons, who were in their teens when their mother died.

Life as a Single Dad

The actor recalled how she would walk to work and back, no matter the situation, and always carefully carried the leftovers from back home for them to eat. Therefore, he learned that sometimes you must do what you need to survive, even if it means staying at a job you hate.

Neeson also revealed that his mother’s grit came from the need to provide for her family since his father did not make much money. Raising teenage boys can be challenging, but Neeson was proud of how well-mannered he raised his sons to be. He said he and Richardson always wanted their kids to be respectful and have manners.

Although the possibility of his boys getting into drugs worried him constantly, he trusted them to be responsible. So when he hears people praising them for being kind and respectful, he feels that he has made himself and his wife proud.

A few years after losing his wife, the actor admitted that he had not figured out the life of being a single father because he took it day by day. But whenever he saw his children discovering themselves and flexing their muscles, he wished Richardson would be there to witness their growth.

Neeson’s sons are now grown; his eldest, Micheál Richardson, is 27 years old, and Daniel Neeson is 26. Micheál followed in his parent’s footsteps; he made his film debut in 2013’s Anchorman. He even acted alongside his father in the 2019 film “Cold Pursuit” and 2020’s “Made in Italy.”

Daniel also studied acting and digital media at Tulane University. Still, after dabbling in a few production gigs and making a few films, he decided to start an eco-friendly clothing line in 2017.