Sam Neill, the beloved Jurassic Park star who passed away earlier this week at age 78, died from pneumonia, according to his longtime representative. The actor's agent, Philip Grenz, confirmed the cause of death in a statement on Thursday, clarifying earlier reports and revealing that Neill's immune system had been compromised after he battled and beat cancer over the past four years .

Grenz noted that the family had decided to release the details to correct "inaccuracies and outright falsehoods" circulating in the media following Neill's "sudden and unexpected" death on Monday, July 13 . The actor had been undergoing treatment at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, Australia .

The statement also outlined funeral plans for the intensely private actor. In keeping with his character, Neill's family will hold a private memorial at his farm in New Zealand at a later date rather than a public service . The actor's family has also asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to causes he cared about deeply, including The Dunstan Hospital Foundation, The Snowdome Foundation, or New Zealand charities dedicated to protecting wildlife and the environment .

Grenz revealed that Neill remained active in his craft until the end, having completed four film projects over the past year. Among these upcoming posthumous releases are the romantic comedy The Last Resort, starring Daisy Ridley and Alden Ehrenreich, and the blockbuster Godzilla x Kong: Supernova .

Just two months before his death, Neill had shared the joyous news that he was officially cancer-free after receiving CAR-T therapy, a new immunotherapy treatment. While appearing on Australia's 7NEWS in April, the actor celebrated a clean scan and expressed his excitement over his recovery .

Why this matters

The public's fascination with Neill's final months stems from his remarkable journey from a stage-three blood cancer diagnosis in 2022 to remission, followed by this sudden turn . His case also highlighted the promise of CAR-T therapy, a treatment he championed to improve accessibility for cancer patients in Australia and New Zealand . Neill is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren .