Sam Neill's cause of death reported as pneumonia as ex reveals he was 'pretty sick'
The former partner of Jurassic Park star Sam Neill has told how the actor was 'pretty sick' for the final few weeks of his life.
It was announced on Monday (13 July) that the 78-year-old had died 'suddenly and unexpectedly' in Sydney, Australia, while surrounded by his loved ones.
A statement shared to social media explained that he had 'passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life' and also clarified that he was 'cancer free'.
The late 78-year-old's ex, journalist Laura Tingle, has since said that Neill's 'poor old body just sort of got a bit exhausted'.
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"He’s been pretty sick for the last couple of weeks, and everybody who loved him has been willing him on from near and far," she told ABC Radio Sydney.
"But I think it was just a bit too much to recover from one more time.
"He’d had a lot of chemo and a lot of immunotherapy and, thankfully, it finally cleared him of the blood cancer that he had, but that left him pretty compromised in terms of his immune system."
Neill celebrated being cancer free in April this year and he credited his recovery to a new treatment he tried out after chemotherapy stopped working on his stage-three blood cancer.
In his 2023 memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, the screen star revealed that he was being treated for stage-three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
“I’m not afraid to die, but it would annoy me,” he told The Guardian in 2023. "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 said. "But as for the dying? I couldn’t care less.”
Tingle - who was in a relationship with Neill from 2018 to 2021 - paid tribute to the actor in a post shared to Instagram on Monday.
"Sweet dreams darling Sam," she wrote, while sharing a string of images and videos documenting the time they spent together.
Aussie actress Nicole Kidman, who starred alongside Neill in the 1989 film Dead Calm, described him as 'one of the greats'.
In a statement shared with the Sydney Morning Herald, she said: "A joy to be around. We met when I was just 18, and he took me under his wing and we stayed friends for life.
"He was charming, kind, funny, and intelligent. He will be greatly missed, and my heart goes out to his family."
Jurassic Park actress Laura Dern shared a similar sentiment while paying tribute to Neill, who she dubbed her 'beloved lifetime friend'.
"He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit," Dern told Variety. "He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant."
Neill spent more than five decades entertaining fans with his TV and film projects after rising to fame when he starred in My Brilliant Career in 1979.
He went on to appear in Dead Calm, before offering his acting talents to The Hunt for Red October in 1990. His most iconic role was Dr Alan Grant in 1993's Jurassic Park, which he reprised in later sequels.
Other standout performances included Possession, Event Horizon, The Tudors, and Peaky Blinders.
Stars share tributes to Sam Neill
Steven Spielberg
The Jurassic Park director wrote in a social media post: “I owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Donaldson, Gilliam Armstrong, Graham Baker and Phillip Noyce for casting Sam Neill in the roles in which he was so brilliant that brought him to my attention and led to his playing Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park.
“Sam was exceptionally collaborative. It was a stretch for him to play a character who acted as though children were messy and smelly because this was the opposite of the loving father he was to his children. I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him.
“Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our Jurassic family and Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world.”
Jeff Goldblum
Sharing a still from the original Jurassic Park movie, Goldblum, who played Dr Ian Malcolm, wrote: “The next great adventure begins. Love, always and forever.”
Cillian Murphy
Murphy, who shared the screen with Neill on the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders, told Variety in a statement: “Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired him and adored him in equal measure. He was one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors…
“RIP.”
Nicole Kidman
Kidman, who starred opposite Neill in 1989’s Dead Calm, told the Sydney Morning Herald that she was ‘immensely saddened’ by the news.
The star added: “Sam was one of the greats, a joy to be around.
“We met when I was just 18 and he took me under his wing and we stayed friends for life. He was charming, kind, funny and intelligent.
“He will be greatly missed, and my heart goes out to his family.”
Colin Trevorrow
Trevorrow, the director of 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion, posted a pic of Neil as his beloved character, Dr Alan Grant.
“Sam Neill was a deeply soulful and beautiful man. He was a friend and collaborator at a challenging time, and his strength gave us all strength. I’ll remember him for his tranquility, his love of wine, and for the calm assuredness he brought to his characters. It’s not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend. Forever grateful,” he wrote.
Richard E Grant
Taking to Instagram, the actor shared a series of snaps of Neil with the caption: “Knew @samneilltheprop for 3 decades and finally worked with him on PALM BEACH in 2018. An officer and a Gentleman in the truest sense. Guided and helped me through a very difficult time in my Life. Pictured beside producer @deb_bal & @ladyheathermitchell . Sail on, kind Sir.”
Christopher Luxon
The Prime Minister of New Zealand penned a touching tribute on X, writing: “Sir Sam Neill was one of the greats.
“He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of. For more than fifty years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today – one of our greatest cultural exports.
“His work will be watched and loved long after all of us. Our thoughts are with his family and friends tonight. Rest in Peace.”
Anthony Albanese
The Australian PM said on X: “Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts.
“Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance.
“He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest in peace.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Topics: Celebrity News, Australia, Celebrity, Health
Olivia Burke