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‘He Was Family’: Jimmy Barnes Reflects on Late Actor Sam Neill
Australian rock star Jimmy Barnes has paid tribute to actor Sam Neill, describing him as "family" following his death on 13 July at the age of 78. Neill, who was born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, became one of the most recognisable faces in film through roles in Jurassic Park, The Piano, Event Horizon, Dead Calm and Peaky Blinders, and the tributes from friends across music and politics reflect the breadth of his personal connections beyond acting.
Barnes, who holds a record 22 Australian No. 1 albums, recalled shared meals, wine and hospital visits with Neill, calling him "caring, funny, intelligent, charming, honest, talented". Fellow musicians including The Cruel Sea's Kenny Gormly and former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, who spoke with Neill at the ARIA Hall of Fame ceremony in Sydney on 11 June, also shared warm recollections. Neill had previously overcome an advanced blood cancer, Stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, through CAR T-cell therapy and was cancer-free at the time of his death, but his weakened immune system meant he could not recover from pneumonia; his family confirmed his death occurred suddenly in Sydney.
In short
- Actor Sam Neill died aged 78 on 13 July in Sydney.
- Jimmy Barnes and other musicians paid emotional tribute to him.
- He'd beaten blood cancer but died after contracting pneumonia.
Explained simply
Sam Neill was a Northern Irish-born, New Zealand-raised actor who became one of cinema's most recognisable faces. His film roles included Jurassic Park, The Piano, Event Horizon and Dead Calm, and he also appeared in the television series Peaky Blinders.
Neill had previously battled Stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, an advanced blood cancer, which he successfully overcame. However, he died on 13 July at the age of 78 from pneumonia, with his weakened immune system unable to recover from the infection.
Jimmy Barnes is an Australian rock musician who holds a record 22 number one albums. Neill was known for building relationships across the entertainment industry, connecting with figures in music, film and politics throughout his career.