Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor best known worldwide for playing Dr. Alan Grant in “Jurassic Park,” has died at the age of 78, his family said in a statement.
Neill died suddenly on Monday in Sydney after recovering from cancer. His family said the loss was “sudden and unexpected,” but added that he had remained cancer-free.
Born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, Neill built a career across more than five decades, moving between major Hollywood films, independent cinema and television. He became internationally recognised through “Jurassic Park” and later returned to the franchise, while also appearing in films including “The Piano,” “Dead Calm,” “The Hunt for Red October” and “Hunt for the Wilderpeople.”
Neill had spoken publicly in recent years about being treated for blood cancer and later said he was cancer-free after taking part in treatment. His family paid tribute to the care he received in Sydney and described him as a thoughtful, dry-witted and deeply loved figure.
His death prompted tributes from across the film industry, where colleagues remembered him as one of New Zealand’s most respected screen actors and one of the most recognisable faces of modern adventure cinema.
