Sam Neill was seen in what became his final public Instagram post four weeks before his “sudden and unexpected” death at the age of 78.
News broke on Monday that the acclaimed actor had died in hospital, only months after he shared that he was “cancer-free” following treatment for a form of blood cancer.
The New Zealand-born screen star, best known to global audiences for major films including Jurassic Park, had been taken to hospital in Sydney before his death.
In his last Instagram update, Sam appeared upbeat and well as he attended the ARIA Hall of Fame Awards, where he celebrated several honourees, among them Australian singer Kate Ceberano and New Zealand performer Jenny Morris.
Sharing a warm selfie with Kate, Sam also paid tribute to former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and sisters Vika and Linda, writing: “ARIA HALL of FAME awards ! Great night in Sydney… Four women i have idolised for decades were honoured…
Sam Neill appeared in his final Instagram post four weeks before his “sudden and unexpected” death aged 78
His death was announced on Monday, just months after he said he was “cancer-free” following a lengthy battle with a form of blood cancer (pictured in 2025)
“JENNY MORRIS , KATE CEBERANO , and VIKA and LINDA BULL. Jenny was inducted the Hall by no less than our former NZ PM , JACINDA ARDERN . Another hero.”
In confirming his death, Sam’s family’s statement read: ‘It is with immense sadness that the whānau (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia…
‘Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life… 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.’ [sic]
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.
He shared a snap of singing sisters Vika and Linda Bull
He also posted a snap of Jenny Morris and Jacinda Ardern (L-R) at the ARIA Awards
Neill said: ‘I’ve been living with a particular type of lymphoma for about five years and I was on chemotherapy and the 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.
The treatment is currently in clinical trials to treat another blood cancer, myeloma.
Neill also said he was planning to make a return to acting. ‘It’s time I did another movie,’ he said.
Neill played Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise (pictured)
Neill first went public with his cancer diagnosis in 2023 after being diagnosed with cancer the previous year, after initially experiencing swollen glands.
He found out about as 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.’
Neill, who was born in Northern Ireland to an English mother and a New Zealander father, first disclosed the news of his illness in his memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This, where he writes in the first chapter that he is ‘possibly dying’.
Reflecting on life at the time, the seasoned actor once again said that he did not fear death, admitting, ‘I’m not afraid to die. But it would annoy me. Because I’d really like another decade or two, you know?’
