Jurassic Park icon Sam Neill passed away suddenly on July 13 in Sydney. Reports point to pneumonia hitting after his cancer recovery. Friends and family are keeping it private, as he preferred.
The 78-year-old actor's family announced his death via social media, noting he remained cancer-free after battling angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. He had been declared clear in April following CAR T-cell therapy.
Rima Te Wiata, his Hunt for the Wilderpeople costar, told the New Zealand Herald that Neill had contracted pneumonia. His immune system was weakened by chemo and immunotherapy, according to ex-partner Laura Tingle on ABC Radio Sydney.
A private service is planned in New Zealand with no public event, honoring his low-key wishes. No official cause has been released yet. His family thanked staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
He starred in Jurassic Park, The Hunt for Red October, and more, with a final Jurassic World Dominion role in 2022. So… what a quiet exit for such a legend?