Legendary New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known for playing paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, has died at age 78. Neill passed away on Monday, July 13, 2026, in Sydney, Australia, according to a statement shared by his family.
A Sudden and Unexpected Loss
The news was posted to Neill's Instagram page in a statement from his whānau — the Māori word for extended family. The family described the loss as sudden and unexpected, but noted that Neill remained free of cancer at the time of his death. They thanked the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney for their care and asked for privacy as they process the loss.
No cause of death has been disclosed. The family has indicated that further details will be shared in the coming days.
From New Zealand Newcomer to International Leading Man
Born in Omagh, Northern Ireland, in 1947, Neill moved with his family to Christchurch, New Zealand, as a child and went on to become one of the country's most recognized cultural exports. He broke through internationally with My Brilliant Career (1979) opposite Judy Davis, before building a career that spanned five decades across independent cinema and Hollywood blockbusters.
Neill's most iconic role came in 1993, when he starred as Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, a part he reprised across the franchise for decades. His other notable credits include The Hunt for Red October, The Piano, Peaky Blinders, and a supporting turn as Odin in Marvel's Thor: Love and Thunder. More recently, he appeared alongside Annette Bening in the Peacock series Apples Never Fall.
Away from acting, Neill was also a respected vintner, running the Two Paddocks winery in New Zealand's Central Otago region.
A Public Battle With Cancer
In 2023, Neill revealed he was being treated for a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. He documented much of that journey publicly, including in his memoir Did I Ever Tell You This? Earlier this year, in April 2026, Neill announced he was cancer-free following treatment through an Australian clinical trial — a milestone his family confirmed remained true up until his passing.
Remembering an Industry Icon
Tributes have poured in from across the film and political world following the announcement, reflecting the scale of Neill's influence on both New Zealand and Australian entertainment and his decades-long global career. As one of the key figures in the wave of Australian and New Zealand cinema that broke through internationally in the late 1970s and 1980s, Neill's passing marks the end of an era for a generation of Antipodean filmmaking.
Sam Neill is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren.
Conclusion
Sam Neill's death closes the chapter on one of the most versatile acting careers of the past half-century — one that took him from the dinosaur-filled jungles of Jurassic Park to the intimate drama of The Piano and beyond. His work will continue to be watched and celebrated by generations of fans around the world.
For more on his career and the family's full statement, see CNN's original report.