Sam Neill, the acclaimed actor known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, has died at the age of 78. His family announced his passing on Monday, July 13th, stating it was "sudden and unexpected" but that he was surrounded by loved ones.
In April, Neill had shared that he was cancer-free after a five-year battle with stage-three blood cancer, specifically angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. He revealed in an interview with Australian network 7 News that chemotherapy had stopped working, bringing him close to death. His life was saved by a cutting-edge treatment known as CAR T-cell therapy, a personalized immunotherapy that genetically modifies a patient's own T-cells to target cancer cells.
This treatment, which can cost around $540,000 privately, led to scans showing no cancer in his body, a result Neill described as "extraordinary."
Neill first publicly disclosed his diagnosis in his 2023 memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This?," in which he wrote he was "possibly dying." He was diagnosed with the lymphoma in 2022 after experiencing swollen glands, a discovery made while promoting "Jurassic World Dominion." The film saw him reprise his iconic role alongside original co-stars Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum.
Despite his health struggles, Neill expressed a desire to continue acting, stating, "It's time I did another movie." He also reflected on mortality, telling Australian Story that he was not afraid of dying but would be "annoyed" by it, as he wished for more time to enjoy his life, see his olive trees mature, and watch his grandchildren grow.
Born in Omagh, Northern Ireland, Neill spent much of his childhood in New Zealand. He had a prolific career spanning decades, appearing in films such as "The Hunt for the Red October," "The Piano," and "Event Horizon," in addition to the Jurassic Park series.
He was married to Japanese makeup artist Noriko Watanabe from 1989 to 2017, and they have two children, Elena and Tim. His family has requested privacy as they mourn their loss.