hall died on 17 september 1997, aged 59, after a three-year battle with cancer. john cleese said "i am very upset. i was particularly fond of brian and had several conversations with him this year". "i admire profoundly the way in which he dealt with his cancer. i do not know where he found the strength." a year before his death, hall told the "mirror": "cancer is a bully and i hate bullies. this old boy cancer will get about as much change out of me as all the other bullies i've met – nothing."