Late Sam Neill reflected on reuniting with son he placed for adoption 25 years earlier

The late Sam Neill once shared the deeply personal story of reconnecting with the eldest son he placed for adoption as a young man, describing their reunion decades later as far less dramatic than many people might imagine.

The Jurassic Park star, who died on July 13 at the age of 78, reflected on his "slightly unusual" family during a 2014 interview with The Sunday Times. Although Neill was famously private about his personal life, he spoke candidly about the son he had not seen for 25 years.

Neill explained that he was in his early twenties when his first son, Andrew, was born and felt he was too young to become a father.

"My first son, Andrew, was given up for adoption when he was very small," Neill said. "I was quite small, too — in my early twenties."

The actor revealed that he and Andrew had no contact until his son reached his mid-twenties.

"I didn't see him for 25 years. And then we went looking for each other."

While many adoption reunions are portrayed as highly emotional, Neill said theirs was far more understated.

"These reunions are portrayed as sentimental and grisly, but there is nothing sentimental about it. No one sobs in anyone's arms; it's much more grown-up."

Following the reunion, Neill went on to build a relationship with Andrew while raising the rest of his family. He welcomed son Tim with his Omen III co-star and former wife Lisa Harrow in 1983. After marrying Noriko Watanabe, he adopted her daughter, Maiko, from a previous relationship, and the couple later welcomed daughter Elena in 1991. Neill and Watanabe separated in 2017.

The actor, who was also a grandfather to eight children, later described his family life as "haphazard" during an interview with ABC.

Reflecting on balancing fatherhood with an international acting career, Neill admitted his work often kept him away from home.

"Probably a lot of my parenting has been marked by absence for one reason or another, not the least of them being that my job entails travel a lot."

Despite acknowledging the challenges, he said he chose not to dwell on regrets. "I'm not going to beat myself up about it."

His son Tim also defended his father's frequent absences, telling ABC: "There are worse things a dad can do than be off working."

He added simply: "He is a good dad."

Neill's family announced his "sudden and unexpected" death on 13 July, saying he passed away peacefully in Sydney surrounded by loved ones.

"It is with immense sadness that the whānau [extended family] of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia," the family said in a statement. "Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

The actor's death came nearly three months after he revealed he was in remission following a years-long battle with blood cancer, making his reflections on family and reconciliation an especially poignant part of his legacy.