'I'd really like another decade or two': Sam Neill's comments from 2023 memoir resurface after his death

Neill spoke openly about cancer, family and mortality after revealing his diagnosis in his 2023 memoir

Sir Sam Neill spoke candidly about living with cancer, his outlook on mortality and his gratitude for life following his diagnosis with a rare blood cancer, years before his death at the age of 78.

The actor shared his thoughts in his 2023 memoir Did I Ever Tell You This? and subsequent interviews after revealing his illness.

Neill disclosed that he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, while promoting Jurassic World Dominion in 2022. In his memoir, he described the uncertainty surrounding his diagnosis.

“The thing is, I’m crook. Possibly dying. I may have to speed this up.”

Speaking to The Guardian in 2023, Neill reflected on the emotional challenges of living with cancer and the support he received from family and friends throughout his treatment.

“I mean, I can’t pretend that the last year hasn’t had its dark moments, but those dark moments throw the light into sharp relief, you know, and have made me grateful for every day and immensely grateful for all my friends. Just pleased to be alive.”

Neill also shared his perspective on death, explaining that he did not fear it but hoped to have more time with his family and to see the projects on his New Zealand property flourish.

“I’m not afraid to die, but it would annoy me. Because I’d really like another decade or two, you know? We’ve built all these lovely terraces, we’ve got these olive trees and cypresses, and I want to be around to see it all mature. And I’ve got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big. But as for the dying? I couldn’t care less.”

Chemotherapy initially helped manage Neill's illness before it stopped being effective. He later underwent CAR T-cell therapy, an advanced treatment that genetically modifies a patient's immune cells to fight cancer.

“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.”

Following the treatment, Neill announced, “I’ve had a scan just now, and there is no cancer in my body. This is an extraordinary thing.”

His family confirmed that Neill died on July 13, 2026 in Sydney, Australia, describing his passing as sudden and unexpected while noting that he had remained cancer-free.