Sam Neill‘s official cause of death has been revealed.
“Since Sam Neill’s passing, several stories have appeared in the media which contain inaccuracies and outright falsehoods,” his spokesperson Philip Grenz told Us Weekly in a Wednesday, July 15, statement. “As Sam Neill’s longtime rep, I spoke with his family and wish to clarify some details for his fans. Sam passed away from pneumonia. Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy.”
Grenz went on, “As Sam was an intensely private man who loathed a fuss, his family will honor him with a private family memorial at his farm in New Zealand at a still-undetermined later date. I’d like to thank those who were truly close to Sam for considering his privacy with the respect he earned and his loved ones need and deserve during this immeasurably difficult time.”
His family asked that donations be made to the Dunstan Hospital Foundation, blood cancer research group the Snowdome Foundation or organizations dedicated to the preservation of New Zealand’s wildlife — such as the NZ Nature Fund and Sustainable Tarras — in lieu of flowers.
The actor, best known for his roles as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise and Chester Campbell on the hit show Peaky Blinders, died suddenly on Monday, July 13.
“It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia,” a family statement shared via the actor’s official Instagram account read at the time. (“Whānau” is the Māori word for “family.”)
“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life,” the statement 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. 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.”
News of Neill’s death came just three months after the star announced he was cancer-free. (He had been diagnosed with stage III angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2022.)
Doctors shared the update with Neill after he underwent a clinical trial in Australia, which involved CAR T-cell therapy, to treat his rare form of blood cancer.
He spoke out about his trials and tribulations in a 2023 interview, revealing he was determined to forge ahead and remain grateful for each and every day amid his ongoing health struggles.
“I can’t pretend that the last year hasn’t had its dark moments,” he told The Guardian at the time. “But those dark moments throw the light into sharp relief, you know, and have made me grateful for every day and immensely grateful for all my friends. Just pleased to be alive.”
He continued, while enjoying a beautiful day in New Zealand’s Central Otago, “I’m not afraid to die. But it would annoy me. Because I’d really like another decade or two, you know? We’ve built all these lovely terraces, we’ve got these olive trees and cypresses, and I want to be around to see it all mature. And I’ve got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big.”
Neill is survived by his four kids, sons Andrew and Tim, and daughters Maiko and Elena, and eight grandchildren. (Andrew was put up for adoption while the Tudors star was in his early 20s.)
“I didn’t see him for 25 years and then we went looking for each other,” Neill later revealed to The Times back in 2014. “These reunions are portrayed as sentimental and grisly, but there is nothing sentimental about it. No one sobs in anyone’s arms; it’s much more grown up.”
