Sam Neill, famously known for portraying Alan Grant in the “Jurassic Park” film series, shared earlier this year that he was undergoing treatment for stage-three blood cancer. In a recent interview with Australia Story, the actor revealed that he has been in remission for the past year, thanks to a rare anti-cancer medication that requires biweekly infusions. However, Neill mentioned that his doctors have informed him that this anti-cancer drug will eventually become ineffective.
Regarding his blood cancer, Neill commented, “I know I have it, but I’m not particularly concerned about it. It’s beyond my control. If you can’t control it, don’t worry about it.” Initially, Neill underwent three months of chemotherapy, but the treatment was unsuccessful. Subsequently, his doctor switched him to a rare anti-cancer drug. Neill explained that the infusions every two weeks have a “very grim and depressing” impact on his body, but they are essential for his survival. Nevertheless, he is prepared for the possibility that this treatment will cease to be effective. He stated that he is “not at all afraid” of death but retiring from acting terrifies him.
Dr. Orly Lavee, Neill’s haematologist, shared with Australia Story that they may need to explore a third-line treatment option once the current treatment becomes ineffective. She described the constant anticipation of that happening as a challenging burden to carry.
Sam Neill initially disclosed his cancer diagnosis in an interview with The Guardian in March. He explained that during the promotional activities for “Jurassic World Dominion” in 2022, he noticed swollen glands, leading to his diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
In his earlier interview, Neill expressed his feelings about death, saying, “I’m not afraid of dying, but it would annoy me. Because I’d really like another decade or two, you know? We’ve built all these lovely terraces, we’ve got these olive trees and cypresses. I want to be around to see it all mature. And I’ve got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big. But as for the dying? I couldn’t care less.”
In “Jurassic World Dominion,” Sam Neill reprised his iconic role as Alan Grant, and the film achieved tremendous success at the global box office, grossing over $1 billion. He was joined by his original “Jurassic Park” co-stars, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, in the movie.