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Sam Neill presumably had no regrets before his passing after successfully reuniting with his son.

The late actor rose to fame for winning the hearts of audiences across the world with beloved roles such as Dr. Alan Grant in the “Jurassic Park” franchise.

Although Sam Neill confidently dominated the screen with his powerful performances, he was far from fearless in his early 20s.

Sam Neill Reunited With His Son After Putting Him Up For Adoption

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Over a decade before his passing, Neill opened up about reuniting with his oldest child, a son named Andrew. He became a father for the first time in his early 20s and feared he wasn’t up to the task, leading to Andrew being put up for adoption.

He reflected on the emotional period in a 2014 interview, noting “no one has all the answers on how to be a good parent.” Neill described his family as “slightly unusual,” explaining that they were “more extended than most” before sharing Andrew’s adoption story.

“My first son, Andrew, was given up for adoption when he was very small. I was quite small, too – in my early twenties,” Neill told The Times. “I didn’t see him for 25 years, and then we went looking for each other,” he shared, recalling their reunion wasn’t anything like the movies.

The Late Actor Didn’t Have A Tear-Filled Reunion With His Oldest Son

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According to Neill, his reunion with Andrew was “much more grown-up,” noting that there was “nothing sentimental” about their first meeting in over two decades. He claimed there was no sobbing in anyone’s arms as they enjoyed a mature meeting.

As for what he would do if he had a second chance, Neill implied that he would never have put Andrew up for adoption. “You’re more capable than you think. If I could give my 20-year-old self any piece of advice, it would be that,” the late actor declared.

At the time of his reunion with Andrew, Neill had become the father to three more children. PEOPLE reported that he welcomed a second son, Tim, with his “Omen III” co-star Lisa Harrow. He married Noriko Watanabe in 1989 and adopted her daughter Maiko before the former couple welcomed another daughter, Elena.

More About The Hollywood Veteran’s Family

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Neill met his ex-wife, Watanabe, while they were working on the same movie. He once described his first meeting with the makeup artist as love at first sight, with his brother echoing similar sentiments in the October 2023 episode of ABC News’ “Australian Story.”

The late entertainer and Watanabe were happily married for nearly three decades before separating in 2017. Besides being a father to four children, Neill was also a grandfather to at least eight grandkids before his 2026 passing.

The TV personality’s grandchildren include a grandson named Nahlo and twins Molly and Poppy, who have appeared on his Instagram page. He reportedly wrote the 2023 memoir “Did I Ever Tell You This?” to leave his kids and grandkids with “a sense of me.”

The Entertainer Died Months After Announcing His Cancer Victory

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Neill’s time on earth concluded on July 13, marking the end of a stellar career that spanned over five decades. The Blast reported that his death came months after he announced he was cancer-free, a victory that followed a harrowing battle with a rare form of blood cancer.

The Hollywood veteran first announced that he was undergoing treatment for stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma after discovering swollen glands during the “Jurassic World Dominion” press tour. He noted chemotherapy stopped working for him and he discovered a new drug.

Neill’s family confirmed his passing in a poignant statement shared on his Instagram page. They noted his passing “was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free.” He died in Sydney, Australia.

Sam Neill Was All Smiles At His Final Public Event

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A month before his death, Neill made a joyful appearance at the 2026 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame Awards. He shared moments from the event on social media, capturing him beaming with happiness as he flashed bright smiles for the camera.

The Blast shared that he raved about watching the four women he had idolized for decades, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Vika, and Linda Bull, get honored at the award ceremony. He also penned his admiration for former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Neill was loved as much as he loved others, with actress Laura Dern penning a touching tribute in his memory. She described the late actor as her “beloved lifetime friend,” who showed her “the depths of loyalty, protectiveness, and love.”

Rest in peace, Sam Neill.

The How Late Actor Sam Neill Feared He Wasn’t ‘Capable’ Of Fatherhood first appeared on The Blast