Sam Neill reveals the 'one thing he resents' about his parents in memoir amid sobering cancer diagnosis
OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND: Sam Neill revealed that he had a different name until he was 11 years old. The 'Jurassic Park' actor, 75, wrote in his new memoir, 'Did I Ever Tell You This', that he was born Nigel John Dermot Neill.
The 'Possession' actor's memoir divulges a number of details about his life, including the one reason he resented his parents, how changing his name helped and his happy memories as a father and grandfather.
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What is Sam Neill's real name?
Neill was named Nigel John Dermot Neill at birth, per the Daily Mail. The well-known actor was born in Northern Ireland but was raised in New Zealand. "The one thing I resent about my parents, the only thing, is that they called me Nigel. Changing my name to Sam at the age of 11 was probably the best decision I made in my life," he wrote in his memoir. He previously referred to his name as being "a little effete for... a New Zealand playground."
Earlier, the renowned actor left his fans shattered when he revealed he was battling Stage 3 blood cancer in his book. In an interview with The Guardian, he said, "The thing is, I'm crook. Possibly dying." He told BBC that he had non-Hodgkin lymphoma, describing it as of "a ferocious type of aggressive" nature.
'I'm not afraid to die'
Neill started writing his autobiography as a diversion and to "give me a reason to get through the day." He said that while on a promotional tour for 'Jurassic World Dominion,' he noticed he had lumps on his neck and he sought medical attention. As soon as doctors gave him the sobering news, he started planning on how to go about his memoir. Doctors said he had angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
Despite being in remission, he will have to undergo chemotherapy treatments for the rest of his life. Neill said, "I'm not afraid to die. But it would annoy me. Because I'd really like another decade or two, you know?"