New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known for playing paleontologist Alan Grant in the “Jurassic Park” franchise, among other roles, died Monday at the age of 78 in a “sudden and unexpected” manner in Sydney, according to his family.
“It is with deep sadness that Sam Neill’s family announces his passing on Monday, July 13, in Sydney, Australia. Sam was surrounded by his family and passed away with the dignity that characterized his entire life,” reads a statement posted on his Instagram account, which does not specify the cause of death.
“The loss was sudden and unexpected, but we take comfort in knowing that Sam did not have cancer. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the staff at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital for the incredible care they provided,” the statement adds.
The actor’s family—he also played Inspector Chester Campbell in “Peaky Blinders”—asked that their privacy be respected during this time of “immense grief.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences on the passing of Neill, who, he said, “earned a special place in the hearts of Australians.”
“With an ironic and subtle sense of humor—thoughtful and laconic—Sam battled his illness with the same dignity, humor, and conviction that gave strength to each of his performances. He will be deeply missed and remembered forever,” Albanese wrote on X.
Born in Northern Ireland on September 14, 1947, and a resident of New Zealand since 1954, according to the Golden Globes website—an award for which he was nominated three times—Sam Neill spent nearly five decades building his career in film and television.
He achieved worldwide fame for his portrayal of paleontologist Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” (1993), and also appeared in “The Horse Whisperer” (1998), among other films, according to Agencia EFE.
