Sam Neill on his career, dying and the role he turned down

Sam Neill on his career, dying and the role he turned down Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 2:29pm When news broke that New Zealand actor Sam Neill died suddenly on Monday, many reflected on his memorable roles in film and television. The 78-year-old was surrounded by family, who said he died "with the dignity that has characterised his whole life". The prolific actor has read countless scripted lines throughout his rich career, but here we take at look at what he had to say about his own story. Here is Sam Neill, in his own words. On acting Neill told Australian Story in 2020 that he loved his professional life and being part of an arts community. He was 72 at the time and thought it was "absurd" to think that he'd had such a long career — and was still working. He has been described as very hard-working, skilled and generous on set, but Neill was humble about his acting trajectory. "My acting career has always been muddling from one thing to another, and a lot of good luck." In his 2023 memoir Did I Ever Tell You This? he wrote that he loved being on a film set. The book detailed his lengthy career in film and television, with Michael Rowland calling it a "a long love-letter to Hollywood, peppered with the occasional barb". After his first screen role in New Zealand television movie The City of No in 1971, Neill's big breakthrough was in Sleeping Dogs in 1977. Fan favourites My Brilliant Career, The Piano, the Jurassic Park franchise, The Dish and Hunt for the Wilderpeople are among his many acting credits. Neill continued to working right up until his death, voicing a bad-mouthed magpie in the upcoming film The Fox. "I love being with other actors: how stimulating, how funny, how sad, how vulnerable they can be. "They are the best company I know, I love doing what I know how to do. "It's a good job. I fit in." Neill said the idea of retirement filled him with "dread". He said he was "absolutely fortunate" to still be working as an actor after so many years. "As an actor, you're there to serve. "You're there to serve the script. "You're there to serve the director. "You're there to serve the story. "And I like the idea of service." On the role he turned down During a 2016 Nova radio interview Neill revealed he had the chance to star in a beloved Australian film. "The only regret I do have is that I did turn down Priscilla … "I just didn't get it. "I didn't think it was funny in the script, but it turned out to be such a wonderful film." The role of transgender woman Bernadette went to Terence Stamp and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is still regarded as a top Australian film. Neill said he'd made "a mistake" in passing on the role and pointed out that he wouldn't have had an issue playing the character. On how he wants to be remembered People around the world are sharing their memories of Neill as they pay tribute to his life. But despite the dozens of acting credits to his name, the most moving tributes are the reflections on his character off-screen. In 2020 Australian Story asked Neill what he would like to be remembered for. "I think it behoves us more than anything to be kind. "In a broad sense and in an immediate sense, just to be kind." Neill also got into the business of winemaking, planting his first pinot grapes in the early '90s. Starting off as a "delightful diversion", it became one of his biggest passions and "crazy obsession". He told Australian Story he wanted his legacy to be his beloved vineyards, not "old movies". "I do hope and trust that they will long outlast me." On life Neill appeared on an episode of ABC program The Assembly, when he was asked about the best lesson he learned from his parents. The question moved Neill to tears. He took a few seconds to gather himself before answering, perhaps finding himself applying the wisdom of his mother's words in that moment. "Sometimes you just have to pull yourself together. "It's a tough lesson. "But it's a good one." In 2023, Neill revealed he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer, in early 2022. The revelation came in his memoir but by the time the book was released he was in remission. Neill said he was "'not really interested' in his cancer. But his experiences with the disease clearly gave him some interesting insight on life. He demonstrated that in an interview he gave with The Guardian in 2023, speaking about his diagnosis and treatment. "I can't pretend that the last year hasn't had its dark moments. "But those dark moments throw the light into sharp relief, you know, and have made me grateful for every day and immensely grateful for all my friends." On death A stage 3 cancer diagnosis brought his mortality to the front of his mind. Neill was cancer-free when he died, according to a statement, but it did not detail the cause. In 2023, he told Australian Story he found the notion of dying "very irritating". But he said he was not afraid of death. "I'm not, in any way, frightened of dying. "That's never worried me, from the beginning. "But I would be annoyed. "I'd be annoyed because there are things I still want to do." Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 2:29pm - Share options - Copy link - X (formerly Twitter)