Sam Neill’s ex, Laura Tingle, Reveals His Condition Weeks Before His Death
Sam Neill’s final days were more difficult than many fans realized, according to his former partner, Laura Tingle. The Australian journalist recently opened up about the actor’s health struggles and revealed that the ‘Jurassic Park’ star had been dealing with serious health issues shortly before his death.
Neill died at the age of 78, with his family describing his passing as sudden and unexpected. His family also shared that one positive aspect was that he had remained cancer-free after years of treatment. Neill had publicly revealed in 2022 that he was battling a rare blood cancer, but later announced that he was in remission.
Tingle, who dated Neill from 2018 until 2021, spoke about his final weeks during an appearance on the Australian radio program ‘Sydney Mornings.’ According to Entertainment Weekly, she explained that while Neill had successfully overcome his cancer, the treatments had taken a serious toll on his body.
“He’d been fighting various forms of cancer for at least the last five years intensively. And that takes a toll on anybody’s body,” Tingle said during the interview.
She explained that Neill had gone through extensive chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which helped clear the cancer but left his immune system weakened.
“He’d had a lot of chemo and a lot of immunotherapy and, thankfully, it had finally cleared him of the blood cancer that he’d had, but it left him pretty compromised in terms of his immune system and I think his poor body sort of got a bit exhausted, as makes sense,” Tingle said.
Tingle added that Neill had been unwell for several weeks before his death and that those close to him were hoping he would recover.
“So, he’s been pretty sick for the last couple of weeks and everybody who loved him has been willing him on, from near and far. But, I think it was just a bit too much to recover from one more time,” she said.
Another person close to Neill also shared details about his final illness. New Zealand actor Rima Te Wiata, who worked with Neill in the 2016 film ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople,’ told the New Zealand Herald that the actor had developed pneumonia before his death.
“It really sucks, actually,” Te Wiata said. “I think he would be like: ‘For goodness sake, I got over my cancer. And now look, now I get pneumonia. What next?’”
Neill’s family did not reveal an official cause of death in their statement. They thanked the medical staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their care and asked fans and the media to respect their privacy as they mourned his loss.
Following the news, tributes poured in from across Hollywood, especially from those who worked with Neill throughout his long career. Steven Spielberg, who directed the original ‘Jurassic Park,’ remembered the actor as a talented and generous collaborator.
“I adored making all the ‘Jurassic’ movies with him,” Spielberg said. He added that Neill, along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, would always remain part of the ‘Jurassic’ family.
Dern, who played Dr. Ellie Sattler alongside Neill’s Dr. Alan Grant, also shared an emotional tribute. She described Neill as a lifelong friend and praised his kindness, humor and loyalty.
“Sam was my beloved lifetime friend,” Dern said. “He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit. He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant.”
With a career spanning decades, Sam Neill left behind a legacy that reached far beyond ‘Jurassic Park.’ His performances, humor and personality made him one of the most respected figures in film, and his loss continues to be felt by fans and colleagues around the world.
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