Sam Neill has reassured fans he is “alive and doing well” and cancer free after his recent diagnosis of stage 3 lymphoma sparked a social media panic.
In an Instagram post, the Jurassic Park star clarified that his cancer “has been in remission for eight months, which feels really good.” Despite the Guardian reporting this important detail on Friday, headlines surrounding Neill’s battle with cancer nonetheless sparked widespread concern for the 75-year-old actor.
“My news seems to be all over the news right now and it’s kind of like ‘Cancer! Cancer! Cancer!’ Which is a little tiring because as you can see I’m… alive and kicking,” Neill wrote on Instagram on Saturday.
“Let’s not worry too much about ‘all of that’ because I’m fine. OK!”
Neill also shared a video expressing the same sentiment.
On Friday, the two-time Emmy nominee revealed in an interview with the Guardian that he was diagnosed with stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma – a blood cancer – shortly after developing swollen glands while starring in the 2022 film Jurassic World Dominion” advertises. Neill is able to manage the disease thanks to a chemotherapy drug he will take every month for the rest of his life, according to the Guardian.
“Those dark moments shed light on sharp relief, you know, and made me immensely grateful for every day and all my friends,” he told the Guardian. “Just glad to be alive.”
“I’m not afraid of dying,” he added, “but it would upset me. Because I’d really like to have another decade or two. … I have my dear little grandchildren. I want to see them grow up.”
A day after the Guardian story came out, Neill lamented that the resulting news cycle became so focused on his health scares when “the main thing” he wanted to announce was his upcoming memoir, “Have I Ever Told You That?” Though claiming it’s not a “cancer book,” the Peaky Blinders actor wrote the memoir while he was undergoing treatment and “suddenly couldn’t go to work.”
“I was very nervous, obviously as a first author,” Neill said on Instagram on Saturday.
“The tone of the book is surprising. I never thought I would have a career as an actor, let alone an actor on screen. But something like that happened and I’m filled with gratitude when I look back on that life and that’s what the book is about. I hope you enjoy it.”
Neill’s “Did I Ever Tell You That?” should appear on Thursday. The performer also bagged the upcoming Apples Never Fall limited series starring him and Annette Bening, which begins filming in a week.
“I’m really excited to be back at work,” said Neill.
