Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor best known for his iconic role as palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, has died at the age of 78. His family confirmed the news in a statement shared on his official Instagram account on Monday 13 July 2026, revealing that he passed away in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by loved ones.
Family statement confirms peaceful passing
“It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia,” the statement read, using the Māori word for family. “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.
No cause of death has been disclosed, although Neill had previously revealed a diagnosis of stage-three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer, in 2023. He later announced he was cancer-free following CAR T-cell therapy.
Global tributes from leaders and co-stars
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute on X, describing Neill as an actor who “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.” Actor Alan Cumming wrote: “Ahhh Sam, what a glorious beautiful man. You are missed. Sorry to the family for your immense loss.” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon added: “Sir Sam Neill was one of the greats. He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of. For more than fifty years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today – one of our greatest cultural exports.”
A career spanning 50 years
Born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, Neill’s career spanned more than 50 years across film and television. He first gained international attention with the 1977 thriller Sleeping Dogs, before becoming a household name as Dr Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking 1993 dinosaur epic Jurassic Park. He reprised the role in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022), alongside Laura Dern’s Dr Ellie Sattler, with their characters becoming one of cinema’s most beloved pairings.
Away from the franchise, Neill appeared in a wide range of acclaimed projects including The Omen III: The Final Conflict, Dead Calm, The Hunt for Red October, The Piano, Event Horizon, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, The Tudors and Peaky Blinders. He was also considered for the role of James Bond in the 1980s, screen-testing to replace Roger Moore before producers ultimately chose Timothy Dalton.
Health battle and legacy
In 2023, Neill revealed his cancer diagnosis but later shared that treatment had been successful. “I’ve had a scan just now, and there is no cancer in my body. This is an extraordinary thing,” he said. He was knighted in 2022 as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to film. Neill continued environmental activism until his death and is survived by his four children and grandchildren.
