Sam Neill passed away because of pneumonia at the age of 78. At the time of his passing, he had been cancer free and in remission.

The news of Sam Neill’s passing sent shockwaves of grief and sadness across the industry. While his family had confirmed that the actor passed away “suddenly” and that he was in remission at the time, there had been no other updates about how he had passed away. However, according to the latest reports shared online, it has been revealed that the actor had been suffering from pneumonia at the time of his passing.

Sam Neill passed away at 78 because of pneumonia

Philip Grenz, who had been working as Sam Neill’s representative for years now, confirmed in a news report that the beloved Hollywood icon had left for his heavenly abode after suffering from complications from pneumonia. While talking to Entertainment Weekly, Grenz had shared that the actor always wished for privacy, which is why his family will be having a quiet memorial service for him soon.He added, “As Sam was an intensely private man who loathed a fuss, his family will honor him with a private family memorial at his farm in New Zealand at a still-undetermined later date. I’d like to thank those who were truly close to Sam for considering 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 alike wish to extend their respects to the actor, they should donate to one of the many causes that Neill believed in. The ‘Peaky Blinders’ actor was well known for his philanthropic efforts and for being a big environmentalist. He owned his own farm, and often actively talked about preserving the environment. The statement added that this can include any “NZ charity or fund that supports the sustainability, protection and preservation of New Zealand’s wildlife, native bush and land, such as the NZ Nature Fund and Sustainable Tarras.”

Sam Neill’s four projects to be released posthumously

In the same report, his rep also confirmed that Neill had worked on around four projects that have not yet been released. He continued and shared that the projects “will be released within the coming months.” Two of the confirmed projects include the romantic comedy ‘The Last Resort’, as well as his appearance in the science fiction 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 online shared by the Cleveland Clinic, is an “inflammation and fluid in your lungs caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. It makes it difficult to breathe and can cause a fever and cough with yellow, green or bloody mucus. The flu, COVID-19 and pneumococcal disease are common causes of pneumonia. Treatment depends on the cause and severity.”

About Sam Neill

With more than 5 decades’ worth of experience under his belt and more than 150 acting credits to his name, Neill was a reckoning and defining force in the entertainment industry. On July 13, his family took to his Instagram account to reveal that the ‘Event Horizon’ actor had passed away in Sydney, and that he was surrounded by his loved ones. The actor had been free from cancer at the time of his passing, and earlier this year had announced that the immunotherapy he had opted for had worked, and that the doctors had declared him free of cancer.