New Zealand veteran actor Sam Neill has passed away at the age of 78. His family announced his death via his Instagram account, stating that Neill died in Sydney, Australia, on July 13, 2026, surrounded by family. The statement noted that he passed with the dignity that characterized his life and that the loss was sudden and unexpected, but he remained cancer-free at the time of his passing.
Neill was diagnosed with Stage III angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2022 and openly shared his treatment journey in his memoir. He had previously expressed that he was not afraid of death, but wished to see his family and land continue to thrive.
Neill's illustrious acting career spanned over 50 years and included more than 150 credits. He first gained recognition for early works such as "Sleeping Dogs" (1977) and "My Brilliant Career" (1979). In 1993, he achieved international stardom with his role as Dr. Alan Grant in Jane Campion's "The Piano" and Steven Spielberg's blockbuster "Jurassic Park." He later reprised his iconic role as Dr. Grant in "Jurassic Park III" (2001) and "Jurassic World Dominion" (2022). His extensive filmography also includes acclaimed performances in "Peaky Blinders," "Hunt for the Wilderpeople," and the cult sci-fi horror film "Event Horizon" (1997).