Actor Sam Neil died on July 13, 2026, at the age of 78. Although he spoke openly about his battle with cancer, his family released a brief statement saying his death was “sudden” and “unexpected.” Less than a week after his tragic passing, his cause of death was made public by a representative for the “Jurassic Park” actor.
Sam Neill’s cause of death revealed by his representative
On July 15, a rep for the actor revealed that the “Jurassic Park” star had died of pneumonia at the age of 78.
“Before falling ill, Sam valiantly fought and beat lymphoma with a new treatment called CAR-T therapy,” the actor’s rep told PEOPLE magazine in a brief statement.
The rep noted that the actor has been busy over the past twelve months. In addition to filming four projects in a row, he also ran his winery, Two Paddocks.
Neill’s rep asks for donations in lieu of flowers
A private family memorial will be held at his New Zealand farm. The date of the memorial has not yet been announced.
“I would like to thank those who were truly close to Sam for viewing his private life with the respect that he has earned and that his loved ones need and deserve during this immeasurably difficult time,” his spokesperson added.
In lieu of flowers, Neill’s rep said fans could donate to some of the actor’s favorite causes, including the Dunstan Hospital Foundation, Snowdome Foundation, NZ Nature Fund and Sustainable Tarras.
Sam Neill diagnosed with rare blood cancer in 2022
In 2022, the “The Hunt for Red October” actor was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer. He later revealed he was in remission, but admitted he would have to receive chemotherapy for the rest of his life.
Despite his struggles with cancer, his family said his death was “sudden and unexpected” in a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram following his passing.
“It is with immense sadness that the whānau [extended family] of Sam Neill shares the news of his passing on Monday, July 13, in Sydney, Australia,” the statement begins.
“Sam was surrounded by his family and died with the dignity that characterized his entire life,” they continued. “The loss was sudden and unexpected, but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.”
The statement went on to say, “More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.” »
Sam Neill left behind four children
The actor is survived by four children. He fathered a son named Andrew in his 20s, but didn’t have a relationship with him until the couple got together in 2014. He shared another son, Tim, with his “Omen III” co-star, actress Lisa Harrow.
He adopted another daughter, Maiko, with his ex-wife, Noriko Watanabe, to whom he was married from 1989 to 2017. They also shared a daughter named Elena.
Many Hollywood stars paid tribute to the late actor
Many of the late actor’s teammates took to social media to pay tribute to the actor after his death. His partner in “Peaky Blinders” Cillian Murphy called him “one of the kindest, funniest, sweetest people, and one of the best actors,” adding, “Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired and adored him in equal measure… RIP.”
His “The Hunt for Red October” co-star Alex Baldwin shared a tribute on Instagram saying: “Sam Neill was not only one of the most talented people I have ever worked with, but also one of the kindest and warmest. In pursuit of Red October, I had always hoped to work with him again.
Director of “Jurassic World” Colin Trevorrow called the actor a “beautiful and deeply moving man” in his Instagram tribute, adding: “He was a friend and collaborator in a difficult time, and his strength gave us all strength.” »
“I will remember him for his tranquility, his love of wine and for the calm and assurance he brought to his characters,” he continued. “It’s not every lifetime that you get to befriend a legend. Always grateful.”
