ABC star Laura Tingle honors Sam Neill with rare unseen photos

Sam Neill spent decades outrunning dinosaurs on screen, but off-screen he had one quiet, private love story nobody really knew about, and now his former partner just shared the photos that finally tell that story. Sam Neill passed away Monday at 78, and hours later, ABC Global Affairs editor Laura Tingle shared a deeply personal tribute on Instagram, captioned simply, Sweet dreams, darling Sam. The two dated from 2018 to 2021, a three-year romance they kept almost entirely private, and the photo carousel Laura posted finally pulled back the curtain on what that relationship actually looked like. Forget red carpet glamour, these photos show Sam ironing his own laundry, cooking meals, and cuddling chickens, a cat, and even a pet pig at his New Zealand property. There's footage of the couple cruising on a boat, enjoying beach dates, taking road trips, and visiting his private vineyard, which Sam once joked Laura was thoroughly enjoying the spoils of. They even played music together, Sam on guitar with that signature easy smile of his. Sam previously opened up about the relationship himself, telling the Sydney Morning Herald he had three wonderful years with Laura and felt endlessly grateful for that time, even admitting afterward he wasn't sure if being single again was bad luck or a personal failing. Neill, best known worldwide as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, had been open about his own health battle too, revealing a stage 3 blood cancer diagnosis back in 2022 and announcing he was finally cancer-free just this past April. Friends have since shared he was fighting pneumonia in his final days. Laura's tribute is a genuinely touching reminder that even the most private love stories leave behind a beautiful trail once shared. Sam Neill's legacy, on-screen and off, is clearly one built on warmth. Our thoughts are with everyone who loved him. Share your favorite Sam Neill memory below.