Actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in Jurassic Park, dies at the age of 78
Actor Sam Neill, best known for his role as Dr Alan Grant in ‘Jurassic Park’, has died at the age of 78 in Sydney, surrounded by his family.
Actor Sam Neill, best known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the “Jurassic Park” series, has died at the age of 78. Neil announced in April that he was cancer-free after undergoing a clinical trial of CAR-T cell therapy in Australia. He was diagnosed with stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of blood cancer, in 2022.
The family has not yet revealed the cause of Neal’s death. However, Neil’s family wrote that they were “blessed by the fact that Sam was spared cancer” and expressed their “heartfelt gratitude” to the hospital staff for their “incredible care”.
What is angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma? How does CAR T-cell therapy work? Here’s what you need to know.
Signs and symptoms of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a rare, aggressive blood cancer that affects T cells, a type of white blood cell. It can spread to different areas of the body, including the lungs, liver, and bone marrow. This is a subtype of non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma and accounts for approximately 4% of all lymphoma cases in the United States.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms can progress rapidly. They may include:
- Recurrent fever of unknown cause
- night sweats
- skin rash or itching
- shortness of breath
- joint swelling
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin (usually painless)
- Unexplained weight loss
- A weakened immune system can lead to the development of autoimmune diseases
AITL is most common in people over 65 years of age.
What is CAR-T cell therapy?
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR T-cell therapy) is a type of immunotherapy for some blood cancers that works by turning T cells, the white blood cells of the immune system, into “more efficient cancer-fighting machines,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
For some patients, this therapy may cure their cancer. For others, it may help them live longer, the clinic added.
In an April 2026 interview with Australia’s 7News, Neil said he achieved success in clinical trials after initial chemotherapy stopped working after five years.
“I was at a loss and looked like I was heading for the exit, which obviously wasn’t ideal,” he said. After participating in a clinical trial, he underwent a scan and was found to have “no cancer” in his body.
“That’s unusual,” he said. “It’s science at its finest.”
Contributions: Brian Alexander, Kimi Robinson, Sara Moniuszko, USA TODAY
