Liam Neeson
‘The Naked Gun’ US Film Premiere, New York, USA – 28 Jul 2025
He has spent nearly two decades as one of Hollywood’s most bankable action heroes, and at 74 he is still taking on fight scenes. So you might expect Liam Neeson to live in the gym. He says the opposite, and the habit he relies on instead is one almost anyone can copy.
In short
- Liam Neeson, 74, says he does not go to a gym at all.
- The biggest change he has made with age is adding a walk every day.
- A study of nearly 50,000 people found that, after 60, the benefits of walking leveled off at about 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day.
‘I don’t go to a gym at all’
In an interview with Fox News Digital to promote his new film, Neeson was disarmingly frank. “I don’t go to a gym at all,” he said. “I used to, many years ago, but I keep reasonably fit.” For an actor in lead roles, he explained, a certain level of fitness is needed, but “you don’t have to spend two hours in the gym every day.”
The habit: a walk, every day
Instead, the biggest change he has made as he has gotten older is a simple one: a daily walk. When a script calls for more, he adjusts. “If there’s physical stuff like that then, I’ll increase my physical workout activity a little bit,” he said. And he still likes to do as much as he can on set: “I like doing my own fights. I can still do them up to a point.”
“I’m 74 years of age, and I’m so lucky to occasionally still get offered this type of role,” he added.
What the science says
Neeson’s approach lines up with one of the largest studies on walking and longevity. Published in The Lancet Public Health in 2022 and led by Amanda Paluch of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the analysis pooled 15 studies covering nearly 50,000 people on four continents. For adults aged 60 and over, the risk of premature death leveled off at about 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day. “More steps per day are better for your health,” Paluch said.
In other words, you do not need hours of training to stay strong at 74, as long as you keep moving every day. It is the same logic behind Mick Jagger’s training mix at 83 and Sharon Stone’s ‘little and often’ habit.
A new film with an old friend
His new movie, The Mongoose, opened in US theaters on October 30, 2026. It is directed by Mark Vanselow, who was Neeson’s stunt double for almost 30 years. The film is their 30th project together and Vanselow’s first as a director.
The limit
Neeson has not detailed how far he walks or how often he does other training. Earlier interviews described a more structured routine, so his habits have likely changed over time. The step study shows an association with lower mortality, not proof that walking alone keeps anyone action-ready, and anyone changing their routine should check with a doctor.
For another star who swears by one simple routine, see Helen Mirren, 81, and her 12-minute workout.
The bottom line
Liam Neeson’s fitness secret is almost disappointingly simple: no gym, just a walk every day, and a little more effort when the role demands it. At 74, it is clearly working.
