Actor Sam Neill, best known for starring in the Jurassic Park movies franchise, has died aged 78.
Neil, a Northern Ireland born New Zealand actor, starred as Dr Alan Grant in the popular dinosaur franchise. He passed away in Sydney Australia, with his death confirmed in a statement posted on his official Instagram account.
"It is with immense sadness that the whānau (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia", the statement read. "Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life".
"The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital for their incredible care", the statement added.
"More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss".
In 2022, Sam Neill, who also starred in Peaky Blinders, had been diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This saw him take a temporary break from acting. Earlier this year, Neill had announced that he was cancer free.
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Elsewhere, Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Neill on X.
"Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts. Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest in peace", he said.
Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts.
Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance.
He will be much…
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 13, 2026
Sam Neill was born in Omagh to a English mother and New Zealand father, and first got noticed as an actor with his role in the thriller, Sleeping Dogs in 1977.
But his breakthrough role came in 1993, starring as Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, before he returned in for Jurassic III, and Jurassic World Dominion in 2022.
He also starred as Alisair Stewart, a New Zealand settler in The Piano, the Oscar winning film from Jane Campion, as well as the Sean Connery thriller, The Hunt for Red October, and Hunt for the Widerpeople from Taiki Waititi.
Other credits include playing the role of Major Chester Campbell in the first two series of Peaky Blinders, as well as appearing in The Simpsons, The Tudors, Merlin and Alcatraz.
