Sam Neill, known for his role in Jurassic Park, expressed that it would be “frustrating” to pass away three years prior to his unexpected death at 78.
“It’s going to be frustrating because there are still things I want to do,” he shared on ABC’s *Australian Story* in October 2023.
Despite battling cancer, Neill mentioned he wasn’t fearful of death, stating it had never been a significant concern for him.
“I’m not afraid of it,” he said simply.
He reiterated similar feelings during a Guardian interview in March 2023, expressing a desire for more years: “I want another 10 or 20 years, right?”
Neill expressed his wish to enjoy his farm in Central Otago, New Zealand, as well as to watch his grandchildren grow up. However, he acknowledged the unavoidable nature of dying.
On Monday, Neill’s family announced his passing, coming just two months after he revealed he was cancer-free following a fight with a rare blood cancer called angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
“Sam passed away surrounded by his family and with the dignity that characterized his life,” they stated on Instagram, adding that while the death was sudden, his lack of cancer was a blessing.
Neill discussed his cancer journey in his 2023 memoir, *Did I Ever Tell You This?* He first noticed swollen glands in March 2022 while promoting *Jurassic World Dominion*.
After chemotherapy was ineffective, he participated in a clinical trial for a novel CAR-T therapy that targets cancer cells.
“I just had a test and there was no cancer in my body, which is amazing,” Neill said in an April interview.
He also shared his eagerness to return to work, smiling as he declared, “It’s time to make the next movie.”
With a career spanning over five decades and more than 150 acting credits, Neill is best remembered for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the beloved Jurassic Park series. He reprised this role in both *Jurassic Park III* and *Jurassic World: Dominion*.
His upcoming projects include roles in the 2027 films *Godzilla X Kong: Supernova* and *The Last Resort*.
