What really happened to Sam Neill? New details emerge after his death

Sam Neill overcame cancer, but new details reveal another illness he faced before his unexpected death

New details have emerged about the final days of actor Sam Neill following his unexpected death at the age of 78, with his family confirming that cancer was not the cause.

According to Neill's Hunt for the Wilderpeople co-star Rima Te Wiata, the actor had contracted pneumonia before his death. Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, she said Neill's immune system had become significantly weakened after years of cancer treatment.

Neill's former partner, Australian journalist Laura Tingle, also said the actor had been unwell in the days leading up to his death. She explained that although Neill had been declared cancer-free, years of chemotherapy and immunotherapy had left his immune system weakened, making him more vulnerable to illness.

The veteran actor was diagnosed with stage-three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2022 and publicly revealed his diagnosis in his 2023 memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This? After chemotherapy stopped being effective, he underwent immunotherapy and later announced that there was no cancer remaining in his body.

In recent interviews, Neill spoke positively about his recovery, saying he felt healthier and happier after the treatment succeeded. He also discussed participating in a clinical trial for blood cancer therapies.

While pneumonia has been cited by those close to Neill as the illness he developed before his death, his family has not officially confirmed it as his cause of death. An official cause of death has yet to be announced.