Sam Neill, the beloved New Zealand actor best known for his role as Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, has died at the age of 78. His family announced his passing on Monday, July 13, 2026, in Sydney, Australia, describing it as 'sudden and unexpected'.
Family Statement Confirms Details
In an official statement, Neill's family said he was surrounded by loved ones at St Vincent's Private Hospital. The statement read: '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 would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital for their incredible care.'
The family requested privacy as they navigate the loss, adding that more details would be shared later.
Career Spanning Five Decades
Neill's career spanned more than 50 years, making him one of New Zealand's most celebrated actors. He rose to global fame in 1993 as palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park. He reprised the role in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).
Beyond the dinosaur franchise, Neill starred in acclaimed films such as The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Piano (1993), and Event Horizon (1997). On television, he appeared in Peaky Blinders and The Tudors.
Health Battle and Remission
In 2023, Neill revealed he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer. He underwent treatment and later confirmed he was in remission. His family's statement emphasised that he remained cancer-free at the time of his death.
No further details about the cause of death have been released.
