New Zealand actor Sam Neill, remembered around the world for playing paleontologist Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park saga, died this Monday in Sydney at the age of 78. The news was confirmed by his family, who described the death as “sudden and unexpected” and clarified that the actor was cancer-free when he died.

The family did not report the cause of death. In the statement released this Monday, he noted that Neill died surrounded by his loved ones and highlighted that, after a long battle against blood cancer, he no longer showed signs of the disease.

He had overcome an aggressive blood cancer

In 2023, Sam Neill himself revealed that he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

After several treatments, including a CAR-T therapy received as part of a clinical trial in Australia, he announced in April of this year that the studies no longer detected cancer in his body. The recovery had been celebrated by the actor and his followers just a few months before his death.

A career spanning more than five decades

Born in Northern Ireland in 1947 and raised in New Zealand, Sam Neill had a career spanning more than 50 years in film and television.

His international recognition came in 1993 with Jurassic Park, where he played Dr. Alan Grant. He later reprized the character in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).

He also participated in films such as The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Dead Calm, Event Horizon and In the Mouth of Madness, in addition to numerous television productions.

He was an actor who never wanted to be just a Hollywood star. Although he achieved worldwide fame thanks to Jurassic Park, Sam Neill always avoided being pigeonholed as an actor in major productions. He alternated Hollywood films with independent films and Australian and New Zealand productions, a decision that, he said in several interviews, allowed him to continue enjoying acting without losing creative freedom.

Throughout his career he worked with directors such as Steven Spielberg, Jane Campion, John Carpenter and John McTiernan, and was recognized for his versatility in playing everything from scientists and soldiers to historical and dramatic characters.

After hearing the news, tributes began to multiply from New Zealand, Australia and Hollywood. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described him as “one of the greats” and noted that he helped bring the country's stories to a global audience. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Neill held “a special place in the hearts of Australians”.

A great communicator outside of the cinema

In recent years, Sam Neill has gained enormous popularity on social networks thanks to his approachable style and sense of humor.

He frequently posted videos from his farm, where he appeared feeding sheep, ducks, pigs and cows, as well as touring the vineyards on his property. His publications showed a relaxed actor, very different from the image of big film productions, and they added millions of followers.

Neill leaves four children, eight grandchildren and a cinematographic legacy that marked several generations of viewers.