The news of Sam Neill’s death sent shock waves of grief and sadness throughout the industry. Although his family had confirmed that the actor died “suddenly” and that he was in remission at the time, there had been no further news on how he had died. However, according to the latest reports shared online, it has been revealed that the actor was suffering from pneumonia at the time of his passing.
Sam Neill died at the age of 78 due to pneumonia
Philip Grenz, who had worked as Sam Neill’s representative for years, confirmed in a news release that the beloved Hollywood icon had gone to his heavenly abode after suffering complications from pneumonia. While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Grenz had shared that the actor always wanted privacy, which is why his family will have a quiet memorial service for him soon.He added: “As Sam was an intensely private man who loathed fuss, his family will honor him with a private family memorial on their farm in New Zealand at a later date yet to be determined. I would like to thank those who were truly close to Sam for treating his privacy with the respect he earned and his loved ones need and deserve during this immeasurably difficult time.”Grenz also added in his statement that if fans and netizens want to pay their respects to the actor, they should donate to one of the many causes Neill believed in. The ‘Peaky Blinders’ actor was known for his philanthropic efforts and being a keen environmentalist. He owned his own farm and often spoke actively about the preservation of the environment. The statement adds that this can include any “New Zealand charity or fund that supports the sustainability, protection and preservation of New Zealand’s wildlife, native forests and land, such as the New Zealand Nature Fund and Sustainable Terraces”.“
All four of Sam Neill’s projects will be released posthumously
In the same report, his representative also confirmed that Neill had worked on about four projects that have yet to be released. He went on to share that the projects “will be announced in the coming months.” Two of the confirmed projects include the romantic comedy ‘The Last Resort’, as well as his appearance in the sci-fi thriller, ‘Godzilla x Kong: Supernova’. No details of the other two projects have been shared online at the time of writing.
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia, according to reports shared online by the Cleveland Clinic, is “inflammation and fluid in the lungs caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. It makes breathing difficult and can cause fever and coughing up yellow, green, or bloody mucus. Influenza, COVID-19, and pneumococcal disease are common causes of pneumonia. Treatment and severity depend on the cause.”
About Sam Neill
With over 5 decades of experience under his belt and over 150 acting credits to his name, Neill was a defining and defining force in the entertainment industry. On July 13, his family took to their Instagram account to reveal that the ‘Event Horizon’ actor had died in Sydney and was surrounded by his loved ones. The actor had been cancer-free at the time of his passing, and earlier this year he had announced that the immunotherapy he had opted for had worked and that doctors had declared him cancer-free.