Inside Sam Neill’s love life: His beautiful act with his second wife and romance with political journalist Laura Tingle before Jurassic Park star’s death at 78

Sam Neill has lived a full life in front of the camera.

But behind the scenes, he was a father and husband who lived in great love with extraordinary women.

The New Zealand actor, who died on Monday at the age of 78 after a sudden illness, was first married to New Zealand actress Lisa Harrow.

The Kiwi pals met in 1980 when they starred in the horror film Omen III: The Final Conflict, which was shot in London.

Their on-screen chemistry spilled over off-screen and they became a couple the same year, marrying in 1981.

In 1983, they had a son named Tim Neill (42), who works as a visual effects artist in the same industry as his famous family.

‘We were together for 11 years. “The best part of this relationship was having our son Tim,” Sam said in 2023.

Lisa, 82, is known for her television roles in The Omen film series, as well as Kavanagh QC and Nancy Astor.

The couple’s divorce was finalized in 1989, and the same year Sam married his second wife, Japanese makeup artist Noriko Watanabe.

Sam and Noriko met in 1987 on the set of the thriller Dead Calm, in which Neill starred opposite a young Nicole Kidman.

They married in 1989 and soon had a daughter, Elena Neill, born in 1991, aged 35.

Like her father, Elena is an actress; In addition to his work on Aussie television shows such as Top of the Lake and the film The Brush-Off, he also works as a tattoo artist.

‘My ex-wife, film makeup artist Noriko Watanabe, and I have been married for almost 30 years. In 2023, our daughter Elena is a Melbourne-based tattoo artist, Sam said.

In a touching move, Sam also became a father to Maiko Spencer, Noriko’s daughter from a previous marriage.

The New Zealand actor was first married to New Zealand actress Lisa Harrow. The two met in 1980 when they starred together in the horror film Omen III: The Final Conflict, which was shot in London. They were seen together in the movie.

Shortly after marrying Noriko, the 45-year-old singer and events manager officially adopted Maiko.

Neill also had a son, Andrew, who was given up for adoption when the actor was in his early twenties.

Father and son found each other and reunited in 1994; In later years Andrew also became part of the family.

The marriage between Sam and Noriko lasted until 2017, when the couple divorced and Sam would not marry for a third time.

However, later in life he found love with Australian political journalist Laura Tingle (65).

The ABC reporter and the Hollywood legend met through mutual friends and dated from 2018 to 2021 before parting ways amicably.

Sam described his relationship with the political reporter in a very private way, but once joked that he was enjoying the spoils of Laura’s special bond.

‘I guess I’m in this for politics; “He’s in this for the wine,” he said.

Neill confirmed the split in 2023.

In 1989, Sam married his second wife, Japanese makeup artist Noriko Watanabe (left). Photographed together in 2002

In a touching move, Sam became a father to Maiko Spencer (pictured), Noriko’s daughter from a previous marriage. He adopted her shortly after they got married

‘I’ve had three wonderful years with Laura Tingle and I’m so grateful for that,’ he said Sydney Morning Herald.

‘I’m a lonely single man now and I’m wondering if this is a personal failure or just bad luck. I’m past my expiration date and I won’t get married again.

‘I’ll be lucky if I go on an odd date one of these days. This suits me very well, but it also feels a little lonely. There were times last year when I could do with a little companionship to help me complete my blood cancer treatment.’

Sam said writing her 2023 memoir, Have I Ever Told You That?, made her “think about how grateful I am to people like my mother and women who have been good to me.” And some of this is not without regret.

‘I think women are better people than men.’

Sam described himself as a somewhat distant father to his four children due to his busy career, but in later years he became an engaged grandfather to his eight grandchildren.

“I guess you could probably describe my family life as a little haphazard,” he joked in 2020.

‘I should write a book about parenting: Sam Neill’s Guide to Benign Neglect.’

The marriage between Sam and Noriko lasted until 2017, when the couple divorced and Sam did not marry for the third time

‘I’ve had three wonderful years with Laura Tingle and I’m so grateful for that,’ Sam said. They were photographed together in 2019

Neill died aged 78, just months after announcing he was ‘cancer free’ following a long battle with a form of blood cancer.

The New Zealand actor, who starred in blockbuster films such as Jurassic Park and The Piano, died in hospital in Sydney on Monday.

His family described his death as “sudden and unexpected” in a statement posted on his Instagram page.

‘It is with great sadness that Sam Neill’s whānau (family) share the news of his passing in Sydney, Australia, on Monday 13 July. “Sam was surrounded by his family and passed with the dignity that characterized his entire life,” they said.

‘The loss was sudden and unexpected, but fortunately Sam remained cancer-free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.

‘More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they cope with this immeasurable loss.’

In April, Neill, known for his role as Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park series, announced that tests determined that he did not have cancer.

In an interview with Channel Seven, Neill described how close he came to death after the chemotherapy started working. An expensive, cutting-edge treatment extended his life.

Sam described himself as a somewhat absent father due to his busy career, but in later years he became an engaged grandfather to his eight grandchildren. He took a photo with his grandchild

“I guess you could probably describe my family life as a little haphazard,” he joked in 2020. ‘I should write a book about parenting: Sam Neill’s Guide to Benign Neglect’

Neill said: ‘I’ve been living with a certain type of lymphoma for about five years and I’ve been having chemotherapy and it’s pretty awful but it’s been keeping me alive.

‘Then the chemotherapy stopped working. ‘I was beside myself and it looked like I was heading for the exit, which was definitely not ideal.’

Neill underwent a special treatment called CAR T-cell therapy, which genetically modifies the patient’s own T cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Private treatment costs around AUD 540,000.

‘I’ve just had a scan and there is no cancer in my body, which is extraordinary. “I’m very, very excited that this could happen,” he said at the time.

Neill first publicly revealed his battle with cancer in 2023, after being diagnosed with cancer the previous year, initially experiencing swollen glands.

He learned about stage three blood cancer while promoting Jurassic World Dominion in 2022.

In this film, he reprized his role as Grant, alongside his original co-stars Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, as well as Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.

He told Australian Story at the time: ‘I’m not afraid of dying in any way. This doesn’t worry me. It never worried me to begin with, but I would get angry.

‘I would get angry because there were still things I wanted to do. Very annoying and lethal. But I’m not afraid of it.’