Actor Sam Neill, known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, died Monday in Sydney, Australia. He was 78.
His family confirmed his passing, stating it was "sudden and unexpected" but that Neill had remained "cancer-free" in the months leading up to his death. In April, Neill had shared that tests indicated no cancer in his body following a battle with lymphoma.
Three years prior to his death, Neill had spoken about his health in an interview with The Guardian. He stated he was not afraid of dying but admitted it would be "annoying" if his life were to end soon. "I’d really like another decade or two, you know?" Neill said at the time. "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."
Neill was diagnosed with stage-three blood cancer in 2022, a revelation he made public in 2023. He described his chemotherapy treatment as "miserable business" but necessary for survival. When chemotherapy ceased to be effective, he underwent a specialized CAR T-cell therapy, a cutting-edge treatment that reportedly cost approximately AUD $540,000. He expressed excitement when scans confirmed he was cancer-free.
Neill, born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Northern Ireland, moved with his family to New Zealand in 1954. He first disclosed his illness in his memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This?" which he began writing after his diagnosis. The actor had also expressed intentions to return to acting.
His family's statement conveyed deep gratitude to the staff at St. Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney for their care and requested privacy during their time of loss.