Sam Neill dead at 78: Jurassic Park star passes away surrounded by his family after revealing he was cancer-free just months ago
Sam Neill has died aged 78, just a few months after declaring he was ‘cancer free’ after a long battle with a form of blood cancer.
The New Zealand-born actor, who starred in blockbuster films such as Jurassic Park and The Piano, was admitted to 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.’
Sam Neill has died aged 78, after announcing he was cancer-free just months ago following a long battle with the disease.
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 Australian TV network Channel Seven, Neill described how close he came to death after chemotherapy worked. An expensive, cutting-edge treatment extended his life.
Neill said: ‘I’ve been living with a certain type of lymphoma for about five years and I was having chemotherapy and doing a pretty miserable job but it was 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, known for his role as Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park series, underwent a special treatment called CAR T-cell therapy, which genetically alters 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.
The treatment is currently in clinical trials to treat another blood cancer, myeloma.
Neill also said he plans to return to acting.
‘It’s time for me to make another movie,’ he said.
Neill first publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis in 2023, after initially experiencing swollen glands after being diagnosed with cancer the previous year.
While promoting Jurassic World Dominion in 2022, he learned he had stage three blood cancer.
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.’
Neill, who was born in Northern Ireland to a British mother and a New Zealand father, first revealed the news of his illness in the first chapter of his memoir, Did I Tell You That?, in which he wrote that he was ‘probably dying’.
Evaluating the life of that period, the experienced actor once again said that he was not afraid of death and said, ‘I am not afraid of dying. But it would bother me. Because I’d really like another ten or twenty years, you know?’
‘We’ve built all these beautiful terraces, we’ve got olive trees and cypresses and I want to be around to see them all mature. And I have cute little grandchildren. I want to see them grow.
‘But as for dying? I couldn’t care less.’
The news of the death of the famous actor was flooded with commemorations.
‘That hit so hard. Thanks for the memories, Sam. You left behind an incredible work. Love to your family,’ wrote Australian radio host Ben Fordham.
‘This is shocking news. What a legend. Gentle genius. Jack Sam Neill,’ commented comedian Dave Hughes.
‘Sam! May you rest in peace,’ wrote Australian of the Year Grace Tame.
Meanwhile, former ABC reporter Virginia Trioli shared her disbelief with a simple, ‘Oh no.’
The star was married to Japanese makeup artist Noriko Watanabe from 1989 to 2017, and the couple have two children: Elena (35) and Tim (43).
Neill has appeared in three Jurassic Park films, including the original in 1993, 2001’s Jurassic Park III, and 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion.
