Actor Sam Neill passed away on July 13, 2026, at age 78. Although he had been open about his cancer struggles, his family released a short statement saying that 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.
On July 15, a representative for the actor revealed that the “Jurassic Park” star had passed away due to pneumonia at age 78.
“Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy,” the actor’s representative told PEOPLE magazine in a brief statement.
The representative noted that the actor had been busy in the past twelve months. In addition to filming four projects back-to-back, he was also running his winery, Two Paddocks.
Neill’s Rep Requests Donations In Lieu Of Flowers
A private family memorial will be held at his New Zealand farm. The date of the memorial has yet to be announced.
“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 rep added.
In lieu of flowers, Neill’s rep said that fans could donate to some of the actor’s favorite causes, which include The Dunstan Hospital Foundation, The Snowdome Foundation, the NZ Nature Fund and Sustainable Tarras.
Sam Neill Was Diagnosed With A Rare Type Of Blood Cancer In 2022
In 2022, “The Hunt for Red October” actor was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare kind of blood cancer. He later revealed that he was in remission, but admitted that he would have to receive chemotherapy for the rest of his life.
Despite his cancer struggles, his family said that 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 share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia,” the statement began.
“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole 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 he did not have a relationship with him until the pair reunited in 2014. He shared another son, Tim, with his “Omen III” costar, actress Lisa Harrow.
He adopted another daughter, Maiko, with his ex-wife, Noriko Watanabe, whom he was married to 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 costars took to social media to pay tribute to the actor following his death. His “Peaky Blinders” costar Cillian Murphy called him “one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors,” adding, “Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired him and adored him in equal measure…RIP.”
His “The Hunt for Red October” costar Alec Baldwin shared a tribute on Instagram, saying, “Sam Neill was not only one of the most talented people I have ever worked with, but one of the kindest and warmest as well. After The Hunt for Red October, I had always hoped to work with him again.”
“Jurassic World” director Colin Trevorrow called the actor “a deeply soulful and beautiful man” in his Instagram tribute, adding, “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,” he continued. “It’s not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend. Forever grateful.”
