Actor Sam Neill died aged 78 on Monday, prompting an outpouring of tributes for the beloved screen star.
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Neill was best known for his roles in Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders, with his death described as "sudden and unexpected."
Following the announcement, speculation quickly spread regarding his cause of death.
In April, Neill revealed that he was in remission after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
He explained that he had received the diagnosis several years earlier.
Sam Neill Cause of Death Confirmed After Official Statement
Neill's longtime agent, Philip Grenz, released a statement on Thursday confirming the actor's cause of death.
Grenz said he had spoken with Neill's family before issuing the statement. He explained that he wanted to address "inaccurate and outright falsehoods" circulating in the media.
"As Sam Neill's longtime rep, I spoke with his family and wish to clarify some details for his fans," the statement read.
"Sam passed away from pneumonia. Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy."
"I'd like to thank those who were truly close to Sam for considering his privacy with the respect he earned and his loved ones need and deserve during this immeasurably difficult time."
Sam Neill's Legacy and Final Projects
Before the official statement was released, actor Rima Te Wiata had said that Neill was battling pneumonia before his death.
Te Wiata appeared alongside Neill in the 2016 film Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Grenz also revealed that Neill, who was born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, had completed several projects that will be released posthumously.
He noted that the actor had "filmed four projects back-to-back... all of which will be released within the coming months".
Neill's family "will honour him with a private family memorial at his farm in New Zealand at a still-undetermined later date."
Across a career spanning more than five decades, Neill amassed more than 150 screen credits.
His final film appearance came in The Fox (2025). While his last television role was in the Netflix series Untamed (2025).
Neill is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren.
