Sam Neill, best known for playing palaeontologist Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, died on Monday, July 13, 2026, at the age of 78. His family described the loss as sudden and unexpected.
Family Confirms Sudden Passing
In a statement, Neill's family said: "It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia. 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 expressed gratitude to St Vincent's Private Hospital for their care and asked for privacy as they navigate the loss.
Cancer Battle and Death Admission
Neill had been diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2023, which he recovered from after treatment. In his memoir Did I Ever Tell You This? and during an interview with ABC's Australian Story in October 2023, he spoke about death, saying: "I'm not in any way frightened of dying. It's never worried me from the beginning. But I would be annoyed. I'd be annoyed because there are things I still want to do." He added in a social media video: "Very irritating, dying. But I'm not afraid of it. Don't worry, I'll be boring you all to death with lots more work."
Career Spanning Over Five Decades
Neill's career spanned more than 50 years, making him one of New Zealand's most famous actors. He gained worldwide recognition as Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park, reprising the role in Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World Dominion. He also starred in films such as The Hunt for Red October, The Piano, Event Horizon, and TV series including Peaky Blinders and The Tudors.
Family and Personal Life
Neill leaves behind four children. His first son Andrew was put up for adoption when Neill was in his early 20s, but they reconnected later in life. He had a second son, Tim, with his first wife Lisa Harrow, and a daughter, Elena, with his second wife Noriko Watanabe. He also adopted Watanabe's daughter from a previous marriage, Maiko. Neill and Watanabe separated in 2017.
