Hollywood veteran Sam Neill is opening up about his nearly five-year health battle.

In 2023, the “Jurassic Park” alum revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

Sam Neill received the heartbreaking diagnosis in 2022 and shed more light on his condition in the tell-all memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You This?” Now, he is cancer-free and working towards helping others in similar situations.

Sam Neill Opens Up About Surviving Cancer After Failed Chemotherapy

Neill got candid about his cancer-free state in a new interview, revealing the challenges he faced along the way. “I’ve been living with a particular type of lymphoma for about five years, and I was on chemotherapy,” the iconic actor began.

He described chemotherapy as a “pretty miserable business,” noting it kept him alive until he faced another hiccup. “Then the chemo stopped working. I was at a loss, and it looked like I was on the way out, which wasn’t ideal, obviously,” Neill recalled.

The TV personality told Australia’s 7 News that the only option left was CAR T-cell therapy, which genetically modifies patients’ blood cells. Hematologist Professor Miles Prince shed more light on the procedure, which is currently in clinical trials to treat another form of blood cancer, myeloma.

The Professor explained that the treatment involved turbocharging cells to enable them to recognize myeloma, which was not visible to the immune system before. Then the cells “jump on it and kill it.” The procedure ended up working wonders for Neill.

The Hollywood Veteran Wants To Help Others In Similar Situations

Neill raved about the benefits of CAR T-cell therapy, saying, “I’ve just had a scan just now, and there is no cancer in my body, that’s an extraordinary thing.” On that note, he and another successful patient of the treatment, Geoff Nyssen, want to make the procedure accessible to others.

According to the outlet, Neil and Nyssen, alongside the medical foundation Snowdome, have been fighting for state and federal governments to fund the treatment for blood cancer patients. Professor Prince shared that the initial regulatory authorities had acknowledged the need for the treatment.

The group hoped the CAR T-cell therapy would be formally approved and available to patients within the next couple of months. “I’m very, very excited that this can happen,” Neill gushed, “It’s science at its best.”

Sam Neill Once Claimed He Wasn’t Afraid Of Death

Thanks to his cancer-free state, Neill declared that the next step for him would be another movie. His excitement for the future differed from his melancholic reaction in 2023 when he claimed he wasn’t afraid of dying but was more “annoyed” by the thought.

The Blast covered the story, reporting that Neill confessed in an interview that he did not fear death. Although he wasn’t scared of dying, Neill did not want to die soon, wishing for another decade or two to live life and spend quality time with his loved ones.

At the time, Neill explained that his family had just planted olive trees and cypresses, sharing that he hoped to see them mature. Additionally, he stated that he wanted more time to watch his grandchildren grow up.

The Golden Globe Award Honoree Reflected On His Friendship With A Late Actor

Besides addressing his cancer battle in his 2023 memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You This?” Neill also reflected on his life and personal relationships. The Blast reported that one of the names mentioned in the tell-all book was the late Robin Williams.

The beloved actor died by suicide in 2014 following a hidden battle with depression and Lewy body dementia, a condition that causes a progressive decline in a carrier’s mental abilities. In his memoir, Neill raved about his close bond with Williams.

He described the late entertainer as the “funniest person” he had ever worked with, as well as “the saddest person” he knew. According to Neill, Williams was a lonely soul in a lonely world, yet he always hid the darkest parts of himself to bring joy to others.

Sam Neill Returned For Another ‘Jurassic Park’ Before His Cancer Discovery

Unbeknownst to Neill, his body had been battling lymphoma while he was having a great time returning to the “Jurassic Park” franchise. The Blast shared in February 2022 that Neill had opened up about reprising his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the final installment of the “Jurassic World” trilogy: “Jurassic World: Dominion.”

When asked how it felt to return to the franchise after nearly three decades since the first installment, Neill declared that it was the best time ever. “Well, we had a blast. I was pleased to do it for a number of reasons.” He explained that he had a great time reuniting with old castmates from the first movie.

Additionally, Neill was happy to work with the new actors for the third installment of the franchise. He noted that everyone grew closer because they were all stuck in a hotel during the pandemic. “It was really an unforgettable time, and I’m very grateful for it,” Neill said.