Sam Neill's heartbreaking response after being told he had terminal cancer resurfaces following actor's death
Sam Neill previously revealed that his cancer was the reason he penned his 2023 memoir.
Earlier today, it was confirmed that the actor, known for his roles in Peaky Blinders, The Piano and Jurassic Park, had passed away 'suddenly and unexpectedly' at the age of 78, with the news being confirmed via a statement on social media.
Neill had been diagnosed with stage-three blood cancer in March 2022.
Although the actor is said to have been 'cancer free' at the time of his death, the diagnosis had inspired him to write Did I Ever Tell You This? as something to leave behind for his four children and eight grandchildren.
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Speaking about the book in a resurfaced interview from 2023, the actor told ABC that he wanted to make sure the younger members of his family were still able to get 'a sense of me' if he passed away suddenly.
"I thought it would be great for them to have some of my stories," he said of the memoir.
"I mightn't be here in a month or two. We'll leave something for them."
Did I Ever Tell You This? was published on 21 March 2023, a year after he was diagnosed with blood cancer, which he'd described as a 'ferocious type of aggressive' non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Neill revealed in the interview that his memoir had been written during a time when he was receiving cancer treatment, which meant he wasn't able to work as much as usual.
"I started to look at my life and realise how immensely grateful I am for so much of it," he explained to ABC, adding: "I started to think I better write some of this down because I'm not sure how long I have to live. I was running against the clock."
After initially receiving chemotherapy, the actor switched to CAR-T cell (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy, a more specialised type of immunotherapy, which meant that he was declared cancer-free in April 2026.
He was then required to undergo regular infusions of the drug indefinitely to fight off any cancer cells, noting that it would eventually stop working.
While Neill's cause of death has not been released, his family did confirm that his passing was not cancer-related, writing: "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free."
The statement also confirmed that he'd been 'surrounded by family' at the time of his death and 'passed with dignity', something which had 'characterised his whole life'.
"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," the statement added.
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.
Brenna Cooper