Liam Padrick Aiken is an American-born film actor. Born January 7, 1990 in New York. His father Bill Aiken was a TV presenter on MTV, which, in fact, influenced Liam's acting career. Aiken's father died of cancer when the baby was only 2 years old, so the Irish mother Moya Aiken was engaged in raising her son. Liam is the only child in the family.
The influence of Liam's mother on his acting career
Liam Aiken got his first on-screen time while studying at the Dvayet Englewood school. He took part in the filming of a Ford Motor Company Windstar commercial. Liam appeared on stage for the first time at the age of 7, playing a role in the Broadway production of “The Doll House”.
Young Liam Aiken got his first film role in the same year, playing Ned in the feature film by American director Hal Hartley “Henry Full”. This film was later nominated for the Golden Palm Branch. Liam himself, speaking of his first role, mentions the priceless influence of his mother, who contributed to the participation of his son in the cinema. Moya Aiken, Liam’s mother, recalls that the family didn’t do very well in those days, but she tried to do everything necessary so that her son could go to college in the future. Of course, Liam's further acting career solved this problem.
The role that brought Aiken fame
The role that brought the young man fame can be considered one in the film "Stepmother" - a drama directed by Chris Columbus. In this film, young Liam played the son of the main character, whose role was played by Susan Sarandon. It is worth noting that the famous actress Julia Roberts also starred in this movie. Of course, this work was not in vain, because Liam managed to work with real Hollywood stars. The film tells about the dramatic relationship between children, their mother and stepmother.
This work brought the boy sudden popularity. Liam Aiken, whose photo appeared on the covers of magazines, began his journey in the cinema. In 1999, at the insistence of his mother, who complained about the gloomy role and the film itself, Liam rejected the offer to shoot in Shyamalan's film “The Sixth Sense”. The stunning success of the picture must have made the young man regret his decision in the future.
Continuing a career as a movie actor
Liam Aiken, whose filmography was replenished in 2002 due to his role in the film “Cursed Way” directed by Sam Mendes, became successful overnight. This film positions itself as a gangster drama, and Tom Hanks played the main role in this film. The boy got the role of the son of Tom Hanks, Peter Sullivan. It should be noted that the famous American actors Jude Law, Paul Newman and Daniel Craig also took part in this picture . Liam Aiken for his role in this film in 2003 was nominated for an award for best supporting role. The actor himself was pleased with this work, indicating that the experience he acquired in conjunction with eminent actors would undoubtedly play an important role in his career.
After the film “The Cursed Path”, Aiken got to work in the comedy “Shaggy Special Forces”. Filmed by director John Hoffman in 2003. This picture is significant in that a young actor played the main role in it for the first time. An interesting fact: for participating in the film, Liam was presented with a puppy of the Italian Greyhound, whom the actor named Kes.
Aken's career failure
Perhaps the biggest failure in Liam's career was that he could not get the role of the wizard boy, the hero of the books of Joanna Rowling, Harry Potter. He did not get this role, despite the fact that Liam already collaborated with the director, who was to shoot the first part, Peter Columbus. The reason for the refusal was Liam's nationality, since, according to the books, Harry was an Englishman, which means that the actor playing his role should have a corresponding accent. In the end, Potter was played by Daniel Radcliffe.
However, Liam still found his tale, playing a major role in the film Lemony Snicket - 33 Misfortunes. By the way, this picture is based on the novel by the writer Daniel Handler. The director of the picture was Brad Silberling, and the main role - the villain Count Olaf - was played by Jim Carrey. Liam spoke very flattering about this work, focusing on the excellent game of Jim, who “amused” everyone with his presence on the set.
Liam Aiken today
The last film work for Liam at the moment was the role in the feature film "The Killer Inside Me", shot by Mike Winterbottom and released in 2009. Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba took part in this film. The role of Liam in this picture was rather second-rate and was not particularly remembered, but nevertheless, Aiken discovered new facets in his acting career.
Liam Aiken, whose biography is full of interesting events, is currently receiving education at the University of New York, which he entered in the spring of 2008. Aiken's specialty is cinema and television.