Sam Neill has assured fans that he is “alive and well” and cancer free after his recent stage 3 lymphoma diagnosis caused a panic on social media.
In an Instagram post, the “Jurassic Park” star clarified that his cancer “has been in remission for eight months now, which feels great.” Although the Guardian reported that key detail on Friday, headlines about Neill’s battle with cancer sparked widespread concern for the 75-year-old actor.
“My story seems to be all over the news right now, and it’s kind of ‘Cancer! Cancer! Cancer!’ Which is kind of boring because as you can see I’m…alive and kicking,” Neill wrote on Instagram on Saturday.
“Let’s not worry too much about ‘all that’ because I’m fine. Well!”
Neill also shared a video expressing the same sentiment for good measure.
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 experiencing swollen glands while promoting the 2022 film “Jurassic World Dominion.” ”. Neill is able to control the disease thanks to a chemotherapy drug that he will continue to take every month for the rest of his life, according to The Guardian.
“Those dark moments shed light on a strong relief, you know, and have made me feel grateful for each day and immensely grateful for all my friends,” he told The Guardian. “Just glad to be alive.”
“I’m not afraid of dying,” he added, “but it would bother me. Because I would really like another decade or two. … I have my adorable little grandchildren. I want to see them grow.”
A day after the Guardian story broke, Neill lamented that the resulting news cycle focused so heavily on his health issue when “the main thing” he wanted to announce was his upcoming memoir, “Did I ever tell you this?”. Though he maintains it’s not a “cancer book,” the “Peaky Blinders” actor wrote his memoir while he was undergoing treatment and “suddenly couldn’t go to work.”
“I was very nervous, obviously as a first-time author,” Neill said Saturday on Instagram.
“The tone of the book is one of surprise. I never thought he would have an acting career, let alone as an actor on screen. But that’s more or less what happened and I’m filled with gratitude as I look back on this life, and that’s what the book is about. I hope you enjoy.”
Neill “Did I ever tell you this?” is scheduled for release on Thursday. The artist also announced the upcoming limited series “Apples Never Fall,” starring him and Annette Bening, which will begin filming in a week.
“I’m very happy to be back at work,” Neill said.
