Sam Neill, the actor famed for portraying Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, died at the age of 78 in Sydney, Australia, on Monday. His death came after a bout of pneumonia, following his announcement that he was cancer-free after treatment for an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Pneumonia After Cancer Remission
Neill's former co-star Rima Te Wiata, who appeared with him in Taika Waititi's 2016 comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople, revealed in an interview with the NZ Herald that the actor had pneumonia prior to his death. 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 abilities: “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 was “so thankful” for Neill's performance in the film.
Ariana Clarice Richards, who played Lex Murphy, also shared a tribute: “Sam – you were more than just a lovely actor to work with – refined, thoughtful, a skill second to none – you were a mentor, protector, and above all, friend. Thank you for making our scenes together feel so real. I will be forever grateful to have been on this journey with you.”
More Tributes from Co-Stars and Director
Bryce Dallas Howard, who co-starred with Neill in Jurassic World Dominion (2022), described him as “funny, warm, wickedly self-deprecating, endlessly kind. Sam had an immense passion for life. Generous with his wine, his stories, his time. One of the most unassumingly attractive and magnetic people I’ve ever met. One of the greats, in every sense.”
Chris Pratt, who played Owen Grady in the Jurassic World series, 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. Keeping his family in my prayers.”
Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, Neill's other Jurassic Park co-stars, 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. I will love you forever, Dr Alan Grant.” Goldblum added: “The next great adventure begins. Love, always and forever.”
Director Steven Spielberg said in a statement: “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.”
Career Highlights and Family Statement
Neill, born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, was also known for his role as Major Chester Campbell in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders opposite Cillian Murphy. He reprised his role as Alan Grant in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).
Announcing his death, Neill's 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.”
