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EntertainmentSam Neill's agent confirms actor died of pneumonia at age 78
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The article reports that Sam Neill's agent has confirmed the actor died from pneumonia, correcting earlier inaccuracies and falsehoods about his death. Neill, 78, had previously battled and beaten stage-three blood cancer (lymphoma) through CAR-T therapy and was declared cancer-free months before his death. He had recently filmed four projects back-to-back while running his winery, Two Paddocks. A private memorial will be held at his farm in New Zealand. Neill was best known for playing Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, as well as roles in Peaky Blinders, The Piano, and The Tudors. He is survived by four children and six grandchildren. Tributes have been paid by Steven Spielberg, Laura Dern, and Cillian Murphy.
Source report
Sam Neill's team has clarified the circumstances surrounding the actor's death, correcting earlier reports.
Earlier this week, it was announced that the Jurassic Park star had died at the age of 78. The news came just months after Neill had shared that he was cancer-free, following his participation in a clinical trial for stage-three blood cancer.
On Thursday, Sam Neill's representative released a statement to address what they described as "inaccuracies and outright falsehoods" regarding the New Zealand-born actor's cause of death.
Official Statement
The representative confirmed that Neill died from pneumonia. The full statement read:
"Sam passed away from pneumonia. Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy.
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"In addition to running his award-winning winery, Two Paddocks, Sam had filmed four projects back-to-back during the past year, all of which will be released within the coming months."
Describing Neill as "an intensely private man who loathed a fuss," the spokesperson added:
"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."
Memorial and Survivors
A private memorial is scheduled to take place at Neill's farm in New Zealand.
According to The Guardian, Neill is survived by his four children and six grandchildren.
Career Highlights
Neill was widely recognized for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise. He was also known for his work in:
- Peaky Blinders
- The Piano
- The Tudors
He earned an Emmy nomination for his narration work on the series New Zealand: Earth's Mythical Islands, released in the 2010s.
Tributes
Following news of his death, tributes have been paid by Neill's peers and colleagues, including Jurassic Park director Steven Spielberg, co-star Laura Dern, and Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy.
Source
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Western
Part of this Story
Sam Neill, 'Jurassic Park' Star, Dies at 78 in Sydney