Sam Neill died of pneumonia after cancer remission, family says

Sam Neill, the 78‑year‑old actor best known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in *Jurassic Park*, died on 13 July in Sydney, Australia. His family announced that his death was “sudden and unexpected” and that he passed away surrounded by loved ones at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Neill had been diagnosed in 2022 with angioimmunoblastic T‑cell lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, and after years of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and a CAR‑T cell trial, he announced he was cancer‑free in April. The treatments left his immune system severely weakened, and he contracted pneumonia shortly before his death. Close friend Rima Te Wiata told the New Zealand Herald that Neill would have been “annoyed” to die of pneumonia after beating cancer, while ex‑partner Laura Tingle said his body was “exhausted” after intensive treatment.

Co‑stars including Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern and Steven Spielberg posted tributes, remembering Neill’s humanitarian spirit and talent.