“It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July 2026 in Sydney, Australia,” the statement begins.
Neill did not spend his final moments alone. “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life,” his family said.
The family also expressed their “deepest gratitude” to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for what they described as “incredible care.”
For now, the precise cause of Neill’s death has not been disclosed. His family said additional information would be released at a later stage.
“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,” the statement concluded.
The announcement is especially devastating because Neill had endured a serious health battle in recent years. In March 2022, he was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer.
He underwent treatment for years, making his health journey a deeply personal part of the actor’s later life. However, the statement contained a crucial revelation: the cancer was not present when he died.
