Sam Neill, the beloved star of “Jurassic Park,” faced a formidable opponent off-screen when he was diagnosed with stage 3 blood cancer in March 2022. In a candid interview, the actor revealed that he has no fear of death, though he humorously finds the prospect “annoying” because there’s still so much he’d like to accomplish.
Neill’s journey with cancer was a challenging one. He underwent brutal chemotherapy, which, in his words, stripped him of “any kind of dignity.” Unfortunately, the cancer initially proved resistant to treatment. Many patients might have considered giving up at this point, but not Neill. He was determined to continue the fight, and his perseverance paid off.
The turning point came when his doctor prescribed a “novel” drug as the next step in his treatment. To everyone’s surprise, it worked, putting the actor in remission for over a year. Neill humorously compared his ongoing treatment to going ten rounds with a boxer but emphasized that it’s keeping him alive, a prospect he cherishes.
His battle with cancer didn’t deter him from pursuing his passion for acting. He expressed that the thought of retirement terrifies him because he can’t imagine a life without doing what he loves. Despite his resilience, he’s also aware of the uncertainties of his health. “This stuff will stop working one day too,” he acknowledged. “So I’m prepared for that. I’m ready for it.”
Moreover, Neill doesn’t like discussing his illness, and it wasn’t something he openly shared with many people, not even his son. His primary focus is on living life to the fullest, and he has many stories left to tell. In fact, during his treatment, he began jotting down tales he wanted to leave for his children and grandchildren. These stories ultimately formed his memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You This?” published in March.
In Neill’s eyes, cancer is an inconvenient and unwelcome guest in the grand narrative of his life. While he acknowledges its presence, he refuses to allow it to take center stage.