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Celebrity Deaths 2026: Catherine O’Hara, Eric Dane & More Fallen Stars
The world of cinema has lost a beloved star.
Sam Neill, who portrayed Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, died in Sydney, Australia, on July 13, his family confirmed. He was 78.
"Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life," a statement posted to Neill's Instagram read. "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free."
The New Zealand actor, who was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, stage 3 blood cancer, in 2022, announced he was cancer free earlier this year.
Neill, according to The Guardian, is survived by his four kids and eight grandchildren.
"They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care," the social media statement continued. "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."
In a career spanning over 50 years, Neill was perhaps best known for his role in the Jurassic Park trilogy, later reprising the role in the Jurassic World films.
Originally born in Northern Ireland, Neill moved with his family to Christchurch, New Zealand, when he was 7 years old. He worked in local theater and for the New Zealand National Film Unit after graduating before landing his first major role at the age of 30 in the 1977 film Sleeping Dogs, later starring in films such as The Hunt for Red October, The Piano, Wimbledon and The Vow as well as TV series Peaky Blinders, And Then There Were None and The Tudors.
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix
While Neill kept much of his personal life out of the spotlight, he shared news of his cancer diagnosis in March 2023 while discussing the ways his illness impacted how he viewed both life and death.
"I can't pretend that the last year hasn't had its dark moments," he told The Guardian at the time. "But those dark moments throw the light into sharp relief, you know, and have made me grateful for every day and immensely grateful for all my friends. Just pleased to be alive."
And though his initial chemotherapy treatments were unsuccessful, he ultimately found success in a therapy treatment given every two weeks that kept his cancer in remission.
Through it all, Neill looked to his future with calm—and a sense of humor.
"I'm not afraid to die, but it would annoy me," he quipped. "Because I'd really like another decade or two, you know? We've built all these lovely terraces, we've got these olive trees and cypresses, and I want to be around to see it all mature. And I've got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big."
Murray Close / Getty Images
But when his illness also brought more idle time, the Event Horizon alum decided to spend it working on a memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This, which was published in March 2023.
"I started to look at my life and realize how immensely grateful I am for so much of it," Neill explained to Australian Story in an interview published in October 2023. "I started to think I better write some of this down because I'm not sure how long I have to live. I was running against the clock."
And ultimately, he saw it potentially as a parting gift for his family, adding, "I thought it would be great for them to have some of my stories. I mightn't be here in a month or two. We'll leave something for them."
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