Jurassic Park's Sam Neill Says His Cancer Remission May Not Be Forever, And He's Not Afraid Of Dying

Actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in the Jurassic Park series and the TV show Peaky Blinders, has discussed his blood cancer diagnosis, saying he is not afraid of dying. Neill's cancer is in remission, but that might not be forever. Speaking to Australian Story in interviews conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike began, Neill said he's aware that his cancer may return, and that could be the end for him.

"I am not in any way frightened of dying. That has never worried me," he said. "But I would be annoyed, because there still things I want to do. Very irritating, dying, but I'm not afraid of it."

Neill was diagnosed with rare non-hodgkin's lymphoma. He underwent 3-4 months of what Neill said was "reasonably conventional chemotherapy." Neill said it was a "brutal" process that left him feeling like "bones and skin," according to one of his sons. His cancer was particularly aggressive, doctors said.

It later came back, and doctors set him up with a new treatment that has helped. He goes in every two weeks to get "beaten up" in a process that he says feels like "going ten rounds with a boxer."

"But it's keeping me alive. And being alive is infinitely preferable to the alternative," he said. "One doctor said to me, this stuff will stop working one day. So I am prepared for that. I am ready for it."

Neill returned in Jurassic World: Dominion to play Dr. Alan Grant, his first time back as the character since 2001's Jurassic Park III.