Actor Sam Neill died on July 13, 2026, at 78; his family described the death as “sudden and unexpected.” Grenz confirmed the Sam Neill cause of death as pneumonia, saying he consulted the family before releasing details amid inaccuracies in coverage, according to The Guardian. The Jurassic Park star was best known as Dr Alan Grant and also appeared in The Piano, My Brilliant Career, and Peaky Blinders. Before this illness, Neill had beaten lymphoma via CAR-T therapy, Grenz said. The family will hold a private memorial at his New Zealand farm and requested donations to The Snowdome Foundation, The Dunstan Hospital Foundation, NZ Nature Fund, and Sustainable Tarras instead of flowers.
