Sam Neill died after contracting pneumonia, co-star says, weeks after he told fans he was cancer-free

Acclaimed New Zealand actor Sam Neill contracted pneumonia before his death on Monday, a co-star said, according to a report by Fox News published July 14, 2026. The statement adds a new detail to the account of Neill’s final months and provides additional context to earlier public updates about his health.

Fox News reported that Neill’s co-star said the pneumonia came before he died, describing it as a condition that developed in the period leading up to his death. The co-star’s remarks were reported without additional medical records or independent verification in the same report, meaning the pneumonia detail is presented as an account from a colleague rather than an official clinical statement.

Earlier, Neill had told fans he was cancer-free after battling stage-three non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to Fox News. That earlier update had been delivered months before his death, framing his illness as a condition he believed was under control at the time.

The new report does not specify whether Neill’s pneumonia was connected to his prior cancer treatment or whether it arose as a separate illness. It also does not describe the circumstances of the actor’s care, the setting of his final days, or whether any additional complications were involved.

Neill was widely known for his work in Hollywood and for playing senior roles in major productions. “Jurassic Park,” in which he starred, helped establish his global profile, and subsequent film and television work kept him active with audiences in multiple countries.

The reporting of Neill’s pneumonia comes as public attention continues to track high-profile deaths and the health histories of prominent performers, particularly when earlier statements described a recovery milestone. Family and close colleagues often become the primary public source for details in such cases when medical information has not been released through official channels.

No further statement from Neill’s representatives, the hospital or care providers, or an official death notice was included in the Fox News report. For now, the pneumonia account remains attributed to his co-star, with the understanding that additional documentation, if any, has not been publicly cited in the same coverage.