Earlier this week, “Jurassic Park” star Sam Neill died at a hospital in Sydney, Australia at the age of 78. Now, more details have been shared about the cause of death.
According to multiple reports, died from pneumonia after recently overcoming lymphoma, his manager confirmed.
Philip Grenz, the actor’s longtime manager, told TMZ that pneumonia was the cause of Neill’s sudden and unexpected death. The clarification came after one of Neill’s former co-stars said the actor had been suffering from the illness before his death.
Neill had previously battled stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer. His cancer reportedly went into remission after he received CAR-T cell therapy, an immunotherapy treatment that modifies a patient’s own cells to attack cancer. Despite his health struggles, Neill remained active during the final year of his life. The actor completed four projects back-to-back, according to his manager. All four productions are expected to be released in the coming months.
Neill also continued operating Two Paddocks, his award-winning winery in New Zealand. The Ireland-born actor founded the winery in 1993 and remained closely involved with the business throughout his later years.
A private funeral service will be held for Neill’s family and friends at his farm in New Zealand. Grenz said there will not be a public memorial or celebration of life because Neill did not want a major fuss made over him. His family plans to honor that preference following his death.
The family has asked people wishing to remember Neill to make charitable donations instead of sending flowers. Suggested organizations include the Dunstan Hospital Foundation and the Snowdome Foundation, which supports blood cancer research and treatment. The family also encouraged donations to New Zealand groups focused on preserving wildlife, native bush and land. Those organizations include the New Zealand Nature Fund and Sustainable Tarras.
Neill was best known for playing paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster “Jurassic Park.” He later returned to the role in “Jurassic Park III” and “Jurassic World Dominion.”
His career spanned more than five decades and included roles in “The Hunt for Red October,” “The Piano,” “Dead Calm” and the television series “Peaky Blinders.”
