Sam Neill, the Northern Ireland-born New Zealand actor best known for playing Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, has died aged 78. He passed away in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, surrounded by family.
Laura Dern Leads Tributes
Laura Dern, who played paleobotanist Ellie Sattler opposite Neill in Jurassic Park, paid tribute on Instagram late Monday, calling him her “beloved lifetime friend.” She said: “He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness, and love, always with the driest of wit. He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant.”
Jeff Goldblum, who played Ian Malcolm in the 1993 blockbuster, posted a string of photographs from the film with the caption: “The next great adventure begins. Love, always and forever.”
Steven Spielberg and Peaky Blinders Cast Pay Respects
Director Steven Spielberg, speaking on behalf of his production company Amblin Entertainment, said: “Sam was exceptionally collaborative. It was a stretch for him to play a character who acted as though children were messy and smelly because this was the opposite of the loving father he was to his children. I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him. Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our Jurassic family and Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world.”
Cillian Murphy, who starred with Neill in Peaky Blinders, described him as “one of the finest actors.” He said: “Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired him and adored him in equal measure. He was one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors…RIP.”
The official Peaky Blinders page posted: “Sam was one of the key forces that got Peaky Blinders off to a running start, for which we will be forever grateful.” Joe Cole, who also co-starred, wrote on Instagram: “Rest in peace big dog.”
Cancer-Free After Treatment
Neill announced in April 2026 that he was cancer-free after treatment, three years after revealing he had an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A statement on Instagram confirming his death said: “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.”
Further Tributes from Co-Stars and Leaders
Richard E Grant, his Palm Beach co-star, wrote on Instagram that Neill was an “officer and a gentleman in the truest sense” who “helped me through a very difficult time in my life.” Fellow New Zealand actor Karl Urban, known for The Boys, called Neill “an inspiration for many who followed in his trailblazing footsteps.” Daisy Ridley, who stars with Neill in the unreleased film The Last Resort, posted a photo with broken heart emojis. Rufus Sewell, co-star in Victory, said: “Lucky to have known him. A great actor and a lovely man.” Sean Pertwee, from Event Horizon, wrote: “Devastated to learn my friend Sam Neill has passed away. A supreme talent, elegant, intelligent, hilarious, a truly splendid human.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon led tributes, writing on X: “For more than 50 years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today – one of our greatest cultural exports. His work will be watched and loved long after all of us.”
Career and Legacy
Born in Omagh, Northern Ireland, to an English mother and New Zealand father, Neill first gained attention in the 1977 thriller Sleeping Dogs. His breakthrough came in Jurassic Park (1993), a franchise he returned to in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022). He was also acclaimed for his role as Alisdair Stewart in Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning The Piano, as well as The Hunt for Red October and Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople. On television, he appeared in The Tudors, The Simpsons, and Alcatraz. He lived on a farm and winery called Two Paddocks in Central Otago, New Zealand, which he established in 1993. His most recent TV roles included The Twelve, Apples Never Fall, and Untamed, with two films set for release next year: Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and The Last Resort. He leaves four children and eight grandchildren.
