Sam Neill has reassured fans that he is “alive and well” and cancer-free after his recent stage 3 lymphoma diagnosis sent social media into an uproar.
In an Instagram post, the “Jurassic Park” star clarified that his cancer “has been in remission for eight months, which is really cool.” Although the Guardian reported key details on Friday, headlines about Neill’s cancer battle have sparked widespread concern for the 75-year-old actor.
“My news looks like the whole news at the moment, and it’s like ‘Cancer! Cancer! Cancer!’ Which is a little tiring because as you see, I am… alive and kicking,” Neil wrote on Instagram on Saturday.
“Let’s not worry too much about ‘all that’ because I’m fine. Fine!”
Neil 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 she was diagnosed with stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma – a blood cancer – of swollen glands while promoting her 2022 film “Jurassic World Dominion”. immediately after the experience. According to the Guardian, Neil has been able to manage the disease thanks to a chemotherapy drug that he will continue to take every month for the rest of his life.
“Those dark moments throw the light into sharp relief, you know, and make me grateful for every day and extremely grateful to all my friends,” he told the Guardian. “Happy to be alive.”
“I’m not afraid of dying,” he said, “but it would bother me. Because I’d really like another decade or two. … I have lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them grow up.”
A day after the Guardian story came out, Neill lamented that the resulting news cycle focused so much on his health scare when the “main thing” he wanted to announce was his upcoming memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You?” told it?” Though he says it’s not a “cancer book,” the “Peaky Blinders” actor wrote his memoir while he was being treated and “suddenly couldn’t go to work.”
“I was very nervous, obviously as a first-time writer,” Neill said on Instagram on Saturday.
“The tone of the book is one of wonder. I never thought I would have a career as an actor, let alone one on screen. But it did and I look back on this life I’m filled with gratitude, and that’s what the book is about. I hope you enjoy it.”
Neil’s “Have I Ever Told You This?” is scheduled for release on Thursday. The artist also added that the upcoming limited series “Apples Never Fall,” starring him and Annette Bening, will begin filming in a week.
“I’m very happy to be back at work,” Neil said.