Sam Neill reveals the big name Aussie actor who lent him support during his cancer treatment: ‘That’s a real friend’
Sam Neill has revealed that Australian actor Bryan Brown was one of his biggest supporters during his treatment for stage three blood cancer, after the Jurassic Park star was diagnosed with the disease in 2022.
In conversation with Jess Rowe about her Big talk show podcast on Wednesday, the 76-year-old, who is now in remission, said it was close friends like Bryan, 77, who were his pillars of support.
“I would be completely lost without friends, and old friends are even dearer to me because they have been through hard times,” Sam said.
‘I was in the hospital for a while and Bryan came by every day. Every day. I thought, “That’s a real friend.”
“He had nothing to say, but he came in and kept me company.”
Sam added that despite the two having very little in common, their friendship has lasted more than 40 years.
“Bryan and I have been friends since 1980, I think,” he said.
Sam Neill, left, has revealed that iconic Australian actor Bryan Brown, right, was one of his biggest supporters during his treatment for stage three blood cancer after the Jurassic Park star was diagnosed with the disease in 2022
“It’s an unlikely friendship because we have nothing in common. I love him to bits, he’s a great family man. [and] ‘Incredibly loyal.’
Sam discovered he had stage three blood cancer in 2022 during his first trip back to New Zealand. Due to the lockdowns, it was virtually impossible to go home and see his family for two years.
His son Tim told ABC’s Australian story His father had only been back in New Zealand for an hour when a doctor called with the terrible news that he had cancer.
“When he hung up the phone and we sat down and we cried a little bit together. It was supposed to be a happy day. He wasn’t allowed to stay,” Tim said.
Sam continued: ‘I was really in a fight for my life. And everything was a new world and a rather alarming world.
‘I had three or four months of fairly conventional chemotherapies, which were quite tough.’
star was diagnosed with the disease in 2022. Speaking to Jess Rowe on her Big Talk Show podcast on Wednesday, the 76-year-old, who is now in remission, said it was dear friends like Bryan, 77, who were his pillars of strength