Veteran actor Ian Smith, best known for his role as Harold Bishop in Neighbours, has shared a miraculous update on his cancer battle — revealing he was told he’d be dead by March, but is now thriving against all odds.
At 86, the beloved Australian star appeared on The Morning Show with a candid update about his diagnosis with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma — a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer. Doctors had described it as “non-fixable,” giving him just a few months to live.
“I’ve got cancer. I know that because doctors tell me I have. But apart from that… I feel fine. I was supposed to die in March,” Ian said with a smile. “But I’m still here — and I’ve never felt better.”
His unexpected turnaround is thanks to experimental treatment, which he lightheartedly described as becoming a “guinea pig.” The side effects? Surprisingly joyful. “I lost all my hair… and then grew it back curly! Everyone’s jealous,” he joked.
Though he acknowledges the cancer hasn’t been cured, Ian says he now looks forward to living another year or two. “I’ve been reborn,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I’ve still got stories to tell.”
In a heartfelt reflection, Ian also recalled his final Neighbours scenes, where Harold bid farewell to Ramsay Street. “It was emotional,” he said. “They’re like family to me.”
And while he may not be returning to soapland, Ian is not retiring from life — or storytelling. “I don’t want to play Harold anymore,” he smiled, “but I don’t want to stop acting. I want to go forever.”
