Actor Sam Neill of 'Jurassic Park' fame dies at age 78
by Darryl Coote · UPIJuly 13 (UPI) -- Sam Neill, the Northern Ireland-born and New Zealand-raised actor best known for his starring role in the Jurassic Park film franchise, died Monday in Sydney, his family said in a statement. He was 78.
"Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life," the statement published on his social media accounts said.
"The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free."
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Neill revealed that he had angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma when he announced in a March 2023 video that he was in remission. In the video, he said he began treatment after experiencing swollen glands a year earlier while promoting Jurassic World Dominion.
In April, he announced that he was cancer-free, telling Australia's 7News that: "I've just had a scan and there is no cancer in my body, that's an extraordinary thing.
Neill was a celebrated TV and film actor who appeared in dozens of productions dating back to the early 1970s.
Some of his most notable roles include Captain Borodin in the 1990 Sean Connery-starring The Hunt for Red October, Alisdair Stewart in 1993's The Piano, Chester Campbell in the Peaky Blinders TV series and Dr. Alan Grant in 1993's Jurassic Park, 2001's Jurassic Park III and 2022's Jurassic World Dominion.
For his services to acting, the famed New Zealander, who was born Nigel John Dermot Neill, was appointed an Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire in 1991 and was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in late 2006.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand described Neill in a statement as "one of the greats" who for more than 50 years "took New Zealand stories to the world" and helped to transform the country's film industry.
"His work will be watched and loved long after all of us," Luxon said in a social media statement.
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends tonight. Rest in Peace."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Neill had "earned a special place in Australian hearts."
"Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humor and conviction that gave strength to his every performance," Albanese said online.
"He will be much mourned and long remembered."
Notable deaths of 2026
Sam Neill
Actor Sam Neill attends a photo call for "Sweet Country" at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on September 5, 2017. Neill, best known for his roles in "Jurassic Park" and "The Hunt for Red October," died at the age of 78 on July 13. Photo by Rune Hellestad/ UPI | License Photo