Australian Story: Looking back on Sam Neill's legacy

Acclaimed actor Sam Neill was at the top of his game when a sore neck prompted a visit to the doctor.

A shock diagnosis followed, with Neill rushed into treatment for an aggressive blood cancer.

In 2023 Neill revealed on Australian Story how the experience forced him to confront his mortality.

Neill put pen to paper to document his life, hoping to capture his memories for his children and grandchildren. We look back at his decades-long acting career and how he came into the "cheering-up business" thanks to social media and winemaking.

Sam Neill died on July 13, 2026, aged 78.