Sam Neill battled pneumonia before his death, co-star says, as tributes …

Sir Sam Neill, the acclaimed New Zealand actor best known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 blockbuster “Jurassic Park,” had pneumonia before his death, according to a co-star. His passing at age 78 in Sydney, Australia, was described by his family as “sudden and unexpected” but “blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free.”

Neill’s co-star Rima Te Wiata, who worked with him on the 2016 film “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” revealed that the actor was “pretty sick” in the final weeks of his life. “It really sucks, actually,” she told the New Zealand Herald, reflecting on his struggle. “I think he would be like: ‘For goodness sake, I got over my cancer. And now look, now I get pneumonia. What next?’” Te Wiata emphasized that Neill, who had previously fought stage-three non-Hodgkin lymphoma, was not afraid of death but would have been “annoyed” by his final illness. She described him as a “very steady, peaceful, grounded man” whose “gentlemanly demeanour” and empathy defined his career.

Neill’s family confirmed his death on Monday, noting he had been surrounded by loved ones and “passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.” They did not specify a cause of death, though his health history included a prolonged battle with blood cancer. In 2023, he wrote in his memoir that he was “possibly dying” from non-Hodgkin lymphoma but declared himself cancer-free in April 2026 after undergoing genetic therapy. However, his immune system remained compromised, as noted by former partner Laura Tingle, an ABC journalist. “He’d had a lot of chemo and immunotherapy,” she said, adding that his body “just sort of got a bit exhausted.”

Tributes from Hollywood and beyond highlighted Neill’s enduring legacy. Director Steven Spielberg said he “adored making all the ‘Jurassic’ movies with him,” while Jurassic Park co-stars Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum praised his “true and noble” spirit. Dern remembered him as a “beloved lifetime friend,” and Goldblum said, “The next great adventure begins.” Cillian Murphy, who worked with Neill on “Peaky Blinders,” called him “one of the kindest, funniest, and gentlest people.” Nicole Kidman, who acted alongside him in “Dead Calm,” described him as “one of the greats,” noting his “charm, kindness, and intelligence.”

Neill’s career spanned five decades, with roles in films like “The Piano,” “Event Horizon,” and “Merlin,” as well as the British series “Peaky Blinders.” He was also a winemaker in New Zealand’s Central Otago region, where he owned the Two Paddocks vineyards. Born in Northern Ireland in 1947, he moved to New Zealand as a child and was knighted in 2022 for his contributions to the arts. His family’s statement expressed gratitude to St. Vincent’s Private Hospital staff and urged the public to respect their privacy during their grief. Neill’s death marks the end of an era for fans of “Jurassic Park,” whose 1993 film remains a cultural touchstone. As tributes continue to pour in, his co-stars and colleagues remember a man whose warmth, talent, and resilience left an indelible mark on the world.