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Actor Sam Neill died of pneumonia, agent confirms
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฎ Finland /Culture & Society

Actor Sam Neill died of pneumonia, agent confirms

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Actor Sam Neill, known for "Jurassic Park," died at age 78 in Sydney, Australia.
  • His long-time agent confirmed Neill died of pneumonia after bravely fighting and recovering from lymphoma.
  • Neill had been working on four film projects in his final year, with his biography revealing his past battle with blood cancer.

Actor Sam Neill, celebrated for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 blockbuster "Jurassic Park," has died at the age of 78. His long-time agent, Philip Grenz, confirmed that Neill passed away on Monday in Sydney, Australia, from pneumonia.

Neill's family announced his sudden death on his Instagram account Monday. While the family stated he had recovered from cancer, they did not initially disclose the exact cause of death. Grenz, however, felt compelled to clarify the circumstances, addressing what he called "incorrect information and outright lies" circulating in the media.

Sam died of pneumonia. Before he fell ill, he had bravely fought and beaten lymphoma with the help of new CAR-T therapy.

โ€” Philip GrenzNeill's agent, Philip Grenz, clarified the cause of death, stating the actor succumbed to pneumonia after a successful battle with lymphoma.

"Sam died of pneumonia," Grenz told Radio New Zealand. "Before he fell ill, he had bravely fought and beaten lymphoma with the help of new CAR-T therapy." Grenz added that Neill had been actively involved in four film projects during his last year, with these films expected to be released in the coming months. A private memorial service is planned for Neill at his family's farm in New Zealand.

Neill, born in Northern Ireland in 1947, relocated to New Zealand's South Island as a child. He launched his acting career in the 1970s. In his 2023 memoir, Neill revealed his struggle with blood cancer, announcing his recovery in April of the previous year following treatment. He received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations during his prolific career. Tributes have poured in from colleagues, including director Steven Spielberg and his "Jurassic Park" co-stars Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum.

I want to clarify a few details for his fans.

โ€” Philip GrenzAgent Philip Grenz expressed a desire to correct misinformation about Neill's passing.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.