Actor Sam Neill dies at 78
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, known for roles in "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano," died in Sydney at age 78, with his family saying his death was sudden and unexpected.
Sam Neill, a New Zealand actor who achieved international recognition for films such as "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano," died on Monday in Sydney at the age of 78, his family said in a statement posted to his social-media page. The family described his death as "sudden and unexpected" and noted that he was cancer-free at the time, though no specific cause of death was given.
Neill had announced in 2023 that he was being treated for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and later said he had become cancer-free after receiving a genetic therapy that altered his immune system, according to AFP.
Born in Northern Ireland in 1947, Neill moved to New Zealand at age seven and began his film career with the 1977 New Zealand feature "Sleeping Dogs." He later appeared in a range of productions, from the Australian New Wave of the late 1970s to Hollywood blockbusters, including "Jurassic Park" (1993), where he played paleontologist Alan Grant, and the 1993 drama "The Piano." His television work included roles in "The Tudors," "Peaky Blinders," and the Apple TV+ series "Invasion."
Neill also pursued winemaking under the Two Paddocks label in Central Otago, New Zealand, and published a memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This?" in 2023. He was knighted for his contributions to film, a title approved by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese both issued statements mourning Neill, highlighting his impact on the film industries of both countries. He is survived by four children and eight grandchildren.