New Zealand actor Sam Neill has passed away at the age of 78, from pneumonia on Monday, July 13, 2026, at a hospital in Sydney, Australia, his agent confirmed.
Neill born in Omagh, Northern Ireland in 1947, moved with his family to Christchurch, New Zealand, at the age of seven, the family described his death as sudden and unexpected.
Neill’s agent, Philip Grenz, released a statement on Thursday about the cause of death after speaking to Neill’s family. In April 2026, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. The family said he had “remained cancer free” when he died.
“Sam passed away from pneumonia. Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy,” Grenz said.
He has earned Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Reilly, Ace of Spies and Merlin and brought gravitas to historical dramas such as The Tudors. His career has spanned more than five decades, with 150 screen credits.
He is known for his roles in Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders, with his last film appearance was The Fox (2025) and his last TV appearance was in Netflix series Untamed (2025). He is expected to be featured in Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and The Last Resort in 2027.
Sam Neill has left four children and eight grandchildren.