Sam Neill, 75, shocks fans as he reveals his real name

Sam Neill has revealed his real name, after having changed it back when he was in school. 

The acclaimed actor, known for films including Jurassic Park, revealed in his new memoir that he was born Nigel John Dermot Neill back in 1947.

The star, 75, who was born in Northern Ireland but grew up in New Zealand, wrote in his book Did I Ever Tell You This that he ‘resents’ his parents for the name choice. 

‘The one thing I resent about my parents, the only thing, is that they called me Nigel,’ Sam admitted.

‘Changing my name to Sam at the age of 11 was probably the best decision I made in my life,’ he added. 

Sam Neill has revealed his real name, after having changed it back when he was in school

Sam had previously said of his name Nigel that it was ‘a little effete for… a New Zealand playground.’

Also in his book, Sam bravely revealed he is batting stage-three blood cancer. 

In an interview with The Guardian, the 75-year-old actor said: ‘The thing is, I’m crook. Possibly dying.’

The acclaimed actor, known for films including Jurassic Park, revealed in his new memoir that he was born Nigel John Dermot Neill back in 1947

‘Changing my name to Sam at the age of 11 was probably the best decision I made in my life,’ he said. Pictured as a child

Neill also told the BBC that he has had ‘a ferocious type of aggressive’ non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

He began writing his memoir as a distraction and to ‘give me a reason to get through the day’.

Neill revealed that he sought medical treatment after noticing that he had lumpy glands on his neck while doing a publicity tour last year for the film Jurassic World Dominion.

The Piano star stayed calm when doctors told him of his diagnosis, and he immediately began plotting to write a book of his life.

Also in his book, Sam bravely revealed he is batting stage-three blood cancer. In an interview with The Guardian, the 75-year-old actor said: ‘The thing is, I’m crook. Possibly dying’

‘I thought I need to do something, and I thought, ‘Shall I start writing?’ he told the BBC.

‘I didn’t think I had a book in me, I just thought I’d write some stories. And I found it increasingly engrossing.

‘A year later, not only have I written the book – I didn’t have a ghostwriter – but it’s come out in record time,’ he said proudly.

Sam’s specific ailment was diagnosed as angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

He is now in remission but will be on chemotherapy medication for the rest of his life.

Reflecting on life, the seasoned actor admitted, ‘I’m not afraid to die. But it would annoy me. Because I’d really like another decade or two, you know?

‘We’ve built all these lovely terraces, we’ve got these olive trees and cypresses, and I want to be around to see it all mature. And I’ve got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big.

‘But as for the dying? I couldn’t care less.’

He began writing his memoir as a distraction and to ‘give me a reason to get through the day’. He is now in remission but will be on chemotherapy medication for the rest of his life