Actor Sam Neill, known for his role in “Jurassic Park,” didn’t always go by “Sam.” On “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” he revealed his birth name is Nigel Neill, a name he opted to ditch at 10 years old to avoid bullies who called him things like “Nigel No Friends.”
His solution, inspired by Westerns, was to adopt the nickname “Sam” – a decision he considers his best ever.
In a separate health update, Neill shared he overcame a tough battle with stage 3 blood cancer diagnosed in March 2022. While the illness was “ferocious,” he isn’t afraid of death, just annoyed he has things left undone.
Diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, Neill underwent brutal chemotherapy that stripped him of his dignity. When the initial treatment failed, his doctor offered a novel drug that surprisingly put him in remission.
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The treatment, however, is ongoing. “Every two weeks I go in and get beaten up again,” Neill said, comparing it to a boxing match. “But being alive is infinitely preferable to the alternative.”
Neill’s successful treatment allowed him to return to acting, with his latest project, “Apples Never Fall,” a miniseries based on Liane Moriarty’s thriller of the same name, premiering on Peacock on March 14th.
