Actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in "Jurassic Park" and "Peaky Blinders," died on Monday at a Sydney hospital from pneumonia, his agent confirmed. Neill was 78.
Philip Grenz, Neill's long-time agent, released a statement Thursday to clarify "inaccurate and outright falsehoods" circulating in the media regarding the actor's passing. Grenz confirmed that prior to falling ill, Neill had successfully undergone treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a blood cancer he was diagnosed with years earlier. Neill's family stated he had remained cancer-free at the time of his death.
"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 said.
In April, Neill had announced he was in remission. His family described his death as "sudden and unexpected."
Neill, who was born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, had been an "intensely private man who loathed a fuss," according to his agent. His family plans to honor him with a private memorial at his farm in New Zealand at a later date.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Neill amassed over 150 screen credits. He is remembered for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in "Jurassic Park" and appeared in films such as "The Piano," "The Hunt for Red October," "Dead Calm," and "Event Horizon," as well as the BBC drama "Peaky Blinders."
His most recent film appearances include "The Fox" (2025) and the Netflix series "Untamed" (2025). He is also slated for posthumous appearances in "Godzilla x Kong: Supernova" and "The Last Resort," both expected in 2027.
In his 2023 memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This?," Neill detailed his cancer diagnosis and treatment, telling the BBC at the time, "I'm not afraid of dying... What I don't want to do is to stop living, because I really enjoy living."
Neill is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren.