Sam Neill's actor pal Bryan Brown showed his support by visiting him in hospital every day during his cancer treatment

During an appearance on the 'Big Talk Show' podcast, Sam explained: "'I would be completely lost without friends and old friends are even more precious because they have been through the tough times.

"I had a spell in hospital and Bryan came in every day. Every day. I thought: 'That's a real friend'. He didn't have anything to say, but he came in and kept me company."

Sam went on to reveal the pair have known each over for more than 40 years. He added of their friendship: "Bryan and I have been friends since 1980, I think it is.

"It's an unlikely friendship because we really have nothing in common. I love him dearly, he's a great family man [and] immensely loyal."

The pair previously revealed they first met at a showbiz party in Sydney and Sam revealed his pal was "impressed" by his ability to charm women.

He told Twopaddocks.com: "Yes [we met at a party] and you were impressed because I left with three girls'.

Bryan added: "Yeah and I just couldn't get a look-in, which you know has ¬always been my problem compared to Sam. I mean, he's such a ladies' man."

Sam underwent chemotherapy treatment after his cancer diagnosis but it stopped working after three months and he switched his treatment to a rare anti-cancer drug which led to him going into remission.

Despite being cancer-free, he was required to have infusions every two weeks, however, he previously admitted he;s aware the drug won't continue working indefinitely.

He told Australian Story: "I'm prepared for that."

Sam added of his cancer: "I know I've got it, but I'm not really interested in it. It's out of my control. If you can't control it, don't get into it."

He first revealed news of his cancer battle in his book 'Did I Ever Tell You This' which he started work on following his diagnosis.

Speaking to Sky News after the tome's release, he said: "The cancer thing came out as a corollary to the release of the book, which is a memoir that I wrote when I was under chemo. I'm doing absolutely fine now. What was slightly annoying was that the story was sort of 'cancer, cancer, cancer, cancer', and really the other half of the story is 'remission, remission and remission - and I'm absolutely fine."