Sam Neill, the beloved actor who played Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, has died at the age of 78, sending shockwaves through the franchise's fanbase. His family announced his passing on July 13, 2026, in Sydney, Australia, describing the loss as sudden and unexpected but noting that Neill remained cancer-free after battling angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Neill's death marks the latest loss among the iconic cast of the 1993 blockbuster, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023.
Sam Neill's Legacy and Final Years
Neill, born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, reprised his role as the paleontologist in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022). Beyond Jurassic Park, he starred in Event Horizon (1997), Wimbledon (2004), and Peter Rabbit (2018), and appeared in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). On television, he played Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in The Tudors (2007) and Major Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders (2013-2014). He released his memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, in 2023 and ran Two Paddocks, a winery founded in 1993. Neill is survived by three children, including a stepdaughter, and was married once. Tributes poured in from world leaders: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called him “one of the greats” and a key figure in the country's film industry, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Neill “earned a special place in Australian hearts.”
Laura Dern: From Paleobotanist to Oscar Winner
Laura Dern, 59, played Dr. Ellie Sattler and returned in Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World Dominion. She won an Academy Award for Marriage Story (2019) and starred in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). On TV, she earned acclaim for Enlightened (2011-2013) and Big Little Lies (2017-2019). In 2026, she joined The White Lotus, replacing Helena Bonham Carter. Dern co-wrote the book Honey, Baby, Mine with her mother, Diane Ladd, in 2023. She was married to musician Ben Harper from 2005 to 2013 and has two children: son Ellery Walker, 24, and daughter Jaya, 21. She is set to portray Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown in a drama about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Jeff Goldblum: Fatherhood in His 60s and Musical Ventures
Jeff Goldblum, 73, played Dr. Ian Malcolm and returned in The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), and Jurassic World Dominion. He starred in Independence Day (1996), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and Asteroid City (2023), and most recently played The Wizard in the Wicked films alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Goldblum released three jazz albums since 2018, with his latest, Still Blooming, featuring the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra in 2025. He has been married to dancer Emilie Goldblum since 2014, with whom he has two sons: Charlie, born in 2015, and River, born in 2017. He told iNews in 2018, “It feels great to do it right now, because all the things I’m considering are perfectly suited to the big questions and challenges of having kids.”
Richard Attenborough: A Legend Remembered
Richard Attenborough played Dr. John Hammond and reprised the role in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. He starred in Miracle on 34th Street (1994) and Elizabeth (1998), and directed films including Closing the Ring (2007). Attenborough died in 2014 at age 90. He was predeceased by his wife, Sheila Sim, who died in 2016, and his daughter and granddaughter, who were killed in the 2004 Pacific tsunami.
B.D. Wong: Advocacy and Continued Acting
B.D. Wong, 65, played Dr. Henry Wu and returned in all three Jurassic World films. He voiced characters in Mulan (1998) and Mulan II (2004), and played Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: SVU (2001-2015). He shares two children with ex-partner Richie Jackson and married Richert Schnorr in 2018. Wong is recognized for his advocacy for AAPI and LGBTQ+ communities.
Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards: The Murphy Siblings
Joseph Mazzello, 42, played Tim Murphy and had a cameo in The Lost World. He later played John Deacon in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) and appeared in The Social Network (2010). Ariana Richards, 46, played Lex Murphy and also appeared in The Lost World. She became an award-winning artist, known for evocative figures and landscapes, and has been married to Mark Bolton since 2013 with one child.
Samuel L. Jackson: A Prolific Career
Samuel L. Jackson, 77, played Ray Arnold and did not return for sequels. He won a BAFTA for Pulp Fiction (1994) and has starred in Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), the Star Wars prequels, Unbreakable (2000), The Incredibles (2004), and Django Unchained (2012). He plays Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was nominated for a Tony Award for The Piano Lesson (2022). He has been married to LaTanya Richardson since 1980, with one daughter.
