Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor renowned for his portrayal of paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, has died at 78.
The Australian Daily Telegraph reported on Monday that Neill passed away in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by his family, according to a spokesperson for the actor’s relatives.
Neill’s family also shared the news on Instagram, stating that it is with profound sorrow that we announce Sam’s passing in Sydney on Monday. He departed peacefully, enveloped by his loved ones, embodying the same grace that defined his life.
The family noted that while his death was unexpected, they found solace in knowing his cancer had not returned. They expressed gratitude to the medical staff, though the exact cause of death remains undisclosed.
Born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Omagh, Northern Ireland, in 1947, he relocated to Christchurch, New Zealand, with his family at age seven. Neill reportedly adopted the name Sam during his school years due to the abundance of other students named Nigel.
Neill first gained recognition in the 1977 New Zealand film Sleeping Dogs, and later broadened his international appeal with the 1979 Australian film My Brilliant Career.
His filmography includes notable roles in Omen III: The Final Conflict, Dead Calm, The Hunt for Red October, The Piano, Event Horizon, and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Neill’s most iconic role came in 1993 as Dr. Grant in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. He reprised this character in Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World: Dominion. His small screen credits include standout performances in Peaky Blinders, The Tudors, and the miniseries Merlin.
In his 2023 memoir Did I Ever Tell You This? Neill revealed his 2022 diagnosis of stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. Reuters reported that Neill received this diagnosis during promotional activities for Jurassic World: Dominion after experiencing lymph node swelling, leading to subsequent treatment.
Recently, Neill announced that following CAR-T therapy through an Australian clinical trial, his body showed no signs of cancer.
In recognition of his contributions to cinema, Neill was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022. He is survived by four children and eight grandchildren.
