Sam Neill, 78, dies from pneumonia in Sydney hospital – agent confirms

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:18:46 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Actor Sam Neill has died in a Sydney hospital. The 78‑year‑old, who had been in remission from cancer, succumbed to pneumonia, according to his agent.

Sam Neill passed away Monday at Manly Hospital in Sydney. Known for Jurassic Park, he had fought lymphoma with CAR‑T therapy and remained cancer‑free. Agent Philip Grenz confirms the cause of death. Neill worked on four projects a year before and will appear posthumously in upcoming releases. Tributes from actors, politicians and fans highlight his privacy and legacy.

Sam Neill, 78, dies from pneumonia in Sydney hospital – agent confirms

Actor Sam Neill, renowned for his role as Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park film series and his work on the BBC television drama Peaky Blinders, passed away on Monday in a Sydney hospital. The cause of death was confirmed as pneumonia by his longtime agent Philip Grenz after a conversation with Neill’s family.

Neill had been diagnosed with non‑Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier in the year but had entered remission after treatment with CAR‑T therapy. His family confirmed that he had remained cancer‑free when he died.

Grenz stated, "Sam passed away from pneumonia, after a successful fight against lymphoma." He added that Neill had filmed four projects back‑to‑back during the past year, all slated for release within the coming months, and that a private family memorial would be held at Neill’s farm in New Zealand.

Career Highlights

With a career spanning more than five decades, Neill amassed over 150 screen credits. He appeared in films such as The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Dead Calm and Event Horizon, and joined the U.S. film market as a supporting actor with appearances in The Last Samurai and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

He continued to work into his 70s, featuring in the 2025 film "The Fox" and a 2025 Netflix series "Untamed." Posthumous releases are expected to include "Godzilla x Kong: Supernova" and "The Last Resort" in 2027.

Tributes

The news of Neill’s death drew tributes from fellow actors, politicians, and fans. Peaky Blinders co‑star Laura Dern called him a "my beloved lifetime friend." Australian actress Toni Collette described him as a "hero, legend, sweetheart," while New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hailed him as "one of the greats."

In a 2023 memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This?", Neill reflected on his battle with cancer, noting that he was "not afraid of dying" and that he viewed life as an adventure.

Sam Neill is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren.