SYDNEY: New Zealand actor Sam Neill, internationally renowned for his role as Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, has died at the age of 78, his family announced on Monday.
In a statement posted on Neill’s official Instagram account, his family said he died peacefully on July 13 in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by his loved ones.
“It is with immense sadness that the whānau (extended family) of Sam Neill shares the news of his passing on Monday, 13th July, in Sydney, Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life,” the statement said.
The family described his death as “sudden and unexpected” but said they took comfort in the fact that Neill had remained cancer-free following recent treatment.
They also expressed gratitude to the medical staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney for their care and requested privacy as they mourned their loss.
Career Spanning Five Decades
Born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, Neill built a career spanning more than five decades across film, television and theatre.
He gained worldwide recognition as palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park, reprising the role in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).
Beyond the dinosaur franchise, Neill starred in acclaimed productions including The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Dead Calm, Event Horizon, The Tudors and Peaky Blinders, earning a reputation as one of New Zealand’s most accomplished actors.
Cancer Battle
Neill revealed in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with stage-three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Earlier this year, he announced he was cancer-free after undergoing CAR T-cell therapy following years of treatment.
His family said his death came unexpectedly and was unrelated to the cancer from which he had recently recovered.
Tributes from colleagues, fans and fellow actors began pouring in shortly after news of his death was announced, remembering him not only for his celebrated performances but also for his warmth, humour and generosity.
