Sam Neill’s ex Laura Tingle says the singer was “ill” before his tragic death.
“The bottom line is that he had been battling various forms of cancer intensively for at least the last five years,” the Australian journalist, who dated Neil from 2018 to 2021, told “Sydney Mornings” on Tuesday.
“It takes a huge toll on anyone’s body. He was undergoing high doses of chemotherapy and immunotherapy,” she added.
“Thankfully, his blood cancer was finally cured, but it left his immune system pretty weak. I think his poor old body was a little worn out.”
Tingle, 65, said the “Jurassic Park” star had been “not feeling well for the past few weeks.”
“Everyone who loved him, from near and far, gave him good wishes, but I think it was a little too much for him to get back on his feet again,” she said.
On Monday, Neil’s family announced that he passed away at the age of 78.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Sam Neill’s whānau passed away in Sydney on Monday 13th July,” a representative for the Peaky Blinders actor’s loved ones posted on Neil’s Instagram account.
“Sam passed away surrounded by his family and with the dignity that characterized his life,” the statement continued. “Although the death was sudden and unexpected, the fact that Sam did not have cancer was a blessing.”
Neil’s relatives said: “We are deeply grateful to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their excellent care.”
“We will provide further details in due course, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you please respect their privacy as they work through this unfathomable loss,” the statement concludes.
Rima Te Wiata, who co-starred with Neil in the 2016 comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople, told the New Zealand Herald that he had been suffering from pneumonia before his death.
Laura Dern, Neil’s Jurassic Park co-star, mourned the loss of her dear friend in an exclusive statement to Page Six.
“Sam was my dearest lifelong friend. With his constant wit, he taught me the depths of loyalty, protection, and love,” she said.
The Big Little Lies actress, 59, described Neil as a “true noble gentleman” and “wrapped up in the leading man of my dreams.”
“I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant,” she concluded her statement, referring to the character Neil played in the 1993 blockbuster.
Two months before Mr. Neil passed away, he announced that he was cancer-free after a battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
In October 2023, the actor said he would be “gutted” if he died because there are still things he wants to accomplish.
