Actor Sam Neill, known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the "Jurassic Park" franchise, has died at the age of 78. His death was announced on Monday, with his family stating it was "sudden and unexpected." This comes just months after Neill announced in April that he was cancer-free following a lengthy battle with a type of lymphoma.

Neill was taken to a hospital in Sydney before his passing. His family released a statement expressing deep gratitude to the staff at St. Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney for their care. "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free," the statement read. They have requested privacy as they navigate their immeasurable loss.

In April, Neill detailed his health struggles in an interview, explaining that his chemotherapy had stopped working and he was considering his mortality. He then underwent a costly, cutting-edge treatment known as CAR T-cell therapy, a process that genetically modifies a patient's own T-cells to target and destroy cancer cells. This treatment, which can cost around AUD $540,000, appears to have been successful, as he shared at the time that scans showed no cancer in his body.

Neill first publicly shared his cancer diagnosis in 2023, after being diagnosed the previous year upon experiencing swollen glands. He learned of his stage-three blood cancer diagnosis while promoting "Jurassic World Dominion" in 2022, where he reprised his role as Dr. Grant alongside original co-stars Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum.

Despite his health challenges, Neill had expressed a desire to return to acting, stating in April, "It's time I did another movie." He also reflected on mortality in his memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This," writing, "I'm not in any way frightened of dying. That doesn't worry me... I'd be annoyed because there are things I still want to do."

Neill's final public appearance was approximately four weeks prior to his death, at the ARIA Hall of Fame Awards in Sydney. He shared moments from the event on his Instagram, including photos with honourees Kate Ceberano and Jenny Morris, and noted the presence of former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. In a post accompanying a selfie with Ceberano, Neill wrote, "Great night in Sydney... Four women I have idolised for decades were honoured... JENNY MORRIS , KATE CEBERANO , and VIKA and LINDA BULL. Jenny was inducted the Hall by no less than our former NZ PM , JACINDA ARDERN. Another hero."