Sam Neill built a remarkable life and career in the spotlight, becoming one of New Zealand’s most recognisable screen talents.
Away from film sets and red carpets, he was also a devoted father and husband, sharing deep bonds with several accomplished women throughout his life.
The New Zealand actor, who died on Monday aged 78 following a sudden illness, was first married to fellow New Zealand performer Lisa Harrow.
The two Kiwis crossed paths as co-stars in the horror film Omen III: The Final Conflict, which was shot in London in 1980.
Their connection quickly moved beyond the screen, with the pair beginning a relationship that year before marrying in 1981.
In 1983, they welcomed their son, Tim Neill, now 42, who later followed his parents into the entertainment world as a visual effects artist.
Sam Neill (right) found love later in life with Australian political journalist Laura Tingle (left). The pair are pictured together in 2021
‘We were together for 11 years. The best thing about that relationship was having our son, Tim,’ Sam reflected in 2023.
Lisa, 82, is best known for her television roles in Kavanagh QC and Nancy Astor, as well as The Omen film franchise.
The couple’s divorce was finalised by 1989, and that same year, Sam married his second wife, Japanese makeup artist Noriko Watanabe.
Sam and Noriko met in 1987 on the set of thriller film Dead Calm, in which Neill starred alongside a young Nicole Kidman.
By 1989, they were married, and soon after, in 1991, had a daughter together, Elena Neill, 35.
Like her dad, Elena is an actress, known for her work in Aussie television shows such as Top of the Lake and the film The Brush-Off, as well as working as a tattoo artist.
‘My ex-wife, film make-up artist Noriko Watanabe, and I were married for almost 30 years. Our daughter, Elena, is a Melbourne-based tattooist,’ Sam said in 2023.
In a touching act, Sam also became dad to Noriko’s daughter, Maiko Spencer, from her previous marriage.
The New Zealand actor was first married to New Zealand actress Lisa Harrow. The pair met when they were co-stars on the horror movie Omen III: The Final Conflict, which was filmed in London in 1980. Pictured together in the film
He officially adopted Maiko, 45, a singer and events manager, shortly after marrying Noriko.
Neill also had a son, Andrew, who was placed for adoption when the actor was in his early twenties.
The father and son found each other and reunited in 1994, with Andrew very much a part of the family in later years.
The marriage between Sam and Noriko lasted until 2017 before the couple divorced – and Sam would not marry a third time.
He did however find love later in life, with Australian political journalist Laura Tingle, 65.
The ABC journalist and the Hollywood legend had met through mutual friends and shared a romance between 2018 and 2021, before parting ways amicably.
Sam was very private about his surprising relationship with the political correspondent, but once quipped that Laura was enjoying the spoils of his private vineyard.
‘My guess is that I’m in it for the politics; she’s in it for the wine,’ he said.
Neill confirmed the split in 2023.
In 1989, Sam married his second wife, Japanese makeup artist Noriko Watanabe (left). Pictured together in 2002
In a touching act, Sam also became dad to Noriko’s daughter, Maiko Spencer (pictured), from her previous marriage. He adopted her shortly after the marriage
‘I had three wonderful years with Laura Tingle, and I am so grateful for that,’ he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘I am a solitary single man now, and I wonder if that’s a personal failing or just bad luck. I am past my use-by date and would not marry again.
‘These days I’m lucky if I go on the odd date. That suits me well, but it’s also a bit lonely. There were times last year that I could have done with a bit of companionship to see me through my blood-cancer treatment.’
Sam said that writing his 2023 memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, had caused him to, ‘reflect on how much gratitude I have for people like my mother, and the women who’ve been good to me. And some of that is not without regrets.
‘I think women are better human beings than men.’
Sam has defined himself as a somewhat absent father to his four kids due to his busy career, but in his later years was an engaged grandpa to his eight grandchildren.
‘I think you could probably characterise my family life as being somewhat haphazard,’ he joked in 2020.
‘I should write a book about parenting, Sam Neill’s Guide to Benign Neglect.’
‘I had three wonderful years with Laura Tingle, and I am so grateful for that,’ Sam said. Pictured together in 2019
Neill died at the age of 78 just months after he revealed he was ‘cancer-free’ following a long battle with a type of blood cancer.
The New Zealand actor – who starred in blockbusters such as Jurassic Park and The Piano – died in hospital in Sydney on Monday.
Family described his passing as ‘sudden and unexpected’ in a statement published to his Instagram page.
‘It is with immense sadness that the whānau (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13 July in Sydney, Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life,’ they said.
‘The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.
‘More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.’
In April, Neill – who is best known for playing Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise – announced tests had found he was cancer-free.
In an interview with Channel Seven, Neill detailed how close he came to death after chemotherapy stopped working. A costly, cutting-edge treatment prolonged his life.
Sam has characterised himself as a somewhat absent father due to his busy career, but in his later years was an engaged grandpa to his eight grandchildren. Pictured with his grandchild
I think you could probably characterise my family life as being somewhat haphazard,’ he joked in 2020. ‘I should write a book about parenting, Sam Neill’s Guide to Benign Neglect’
Neill said: ‘I’ve been living with a particular type of lymphoma for about five years and I was on chemotherapy and it’s a pretty miserable business, but it was keeping me alive.
‘Then the chemo stopped working. I was at a loss and it looked like I was on the way out, which wasn’t ideal obviously.’
Neill underwent a special treatment called CAR T-cell therapy, which genetically modifies a patient’s own T-cells to recognise and destroy cancer cells. Private treatment costs around $AUD540,000.
‘I’ve just had a scan just now and there is no cancer in my body, that’s an extraordinary thing. I’m very, very excited that this can happen,’ he said at the time.
Neill first went public with his cancer battle in 2023 after being diagnosed the previous year, after initially experiencing swollen glands.
He found out about his stage-three blood cancer while he promoted Jurassic World Dominion in 2022.
In that film he reprised his role as Grant alongside original co-stars Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum alongside Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.
He told Australian Story at the time: ‘I’m not in any way frightened of dying. That doesn’t worry me. It’s never worried me from the beginning, but I would be annoyed.
‘I’d be annoyed because there are things I still want to do. Very irritating, dying. But I’m not afraid of it.’
