Actor Sam Neill, 78, best known for his roles in the Jurassic Park movies and TV series Peaky Blinders has died, his family has said.
The Northern Ireland-born New Zealand actor, best known for playing Dr Alan Grant in the blockbuster dinosaur franchise, died in Sydney, Australia, on Monday.
A statement posted to Instagram read: “It is with immense sadness that the whānau (family) 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 statement continued: “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.
“More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”
Neill was diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022, which caused him to take a short break from acting, and had announced he was cancer-free earlier this year.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the actor, writing on X: “Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts. Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest in peace.”
Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts.
Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance.
He will be much…
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 13, 2026
Born in Omagh, Northern Ireland, to an English mother and New Zealand father, Neill first gained attention for his role in the 1977 thriller Sleeping Dogs.
His breakthrough came in 1993’s Jurassic Park as Dr Alan Grant, a franchise he later returned to in Jurassic Park III and 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion.
Sam Neill starred as Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park
Neill was also widely acclaimed for his turn as New Zealand settler Alisdair Stewart in Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning film The Piano, as well as Sean Connery thriller The Hunt for Red October, and Taika Waititi’s breakout hit Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
He also found success on television, playing Major Chester Campbell in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders, with further appearances in The Tudors, The Simpsons, Merlin and Alcatraz.
Source: Press Association