Sam Neill, the Northern Ireland-born New Zealand actor best known for playing Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, died on Monday aged 78 in Sydney, Australia. His death came months after he announced he was cancer-free following treatment for an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Pneumonia Prior to Death
Former co-star Rima Te Wiata, who acted alongside Neill in Taika Waititi's 2016 comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople, revealed that Neill had a bout of pneumonia before his death. In an interview with NZ Herald, she said: “It really sucks. I’m sure, as he said in the press once, he’s not scared of death, but he would be annoyed. He would be like, ‘Oh, for goodness sake! I got over my cancer, and now look, now I get pneumonia. What next?’ But he’s on his big journey now.”
Te Wiata also paid tribute to Neill's acting skills, stating: “To be a really good actor, you’ve got to be a good listener. He had really good instincts and a really good spirit. He had a lot of empathy, and those qualities really helped him. He had compassion for his characters, even if they were awful. He knew how to understand things from their perspective.”
Tributes from Jurassic Park Co-Stars
Joseph Mazzello, who played Tim Murphy in the original 1993 Jurassic Park, posted a video tribute on Instagram, struggling to hold back tears. He said: “I had been following his cancer diagnosis and his recovery and was so happy and thankful when I found out he was cancer-free, so this just comes I think as an extra gut punch, because I thought he was through it – but that is life, isn’t it?” He added that Neill was “the best of us” and that he would miss him.
Ariana Clarice Richards, who played Lex Murphy, also shared a tribute, calling Neill a mentor, protector, and friend. Bryce Dallas Howard, his co-star in Jurassic World Dominion, described Neill as “funny, warm, wickedly self-deprecating, endlessly kind” and “one of the greats, in every sense.” Chris Pratt, who played Owen Grady, said: “So devastated to hear the news of Sam’s passing. It was a privilege getting to work with him. All the laughs and memories. I’ll cherish forever. He is a true legend.”
Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum also paid tribute. Dern said: “Sam was my beloved lifetime friend… 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.” Goldblum said: “The next great adventure begins. Love, always and forever.” Director Steven Spielberg said he “adored” making movies with Neill and that “Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world.”
Family Statement
Announcing Neill’s death in a statement, his family said he died “surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.” They added: “The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free.”
Neill was also known for portraying Major Chester Campbell in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders. He reprised his role as Grant in Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World Dominion. His death has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues worldwide.
