New Zealand actor Sam Neill died Monday in Sydney, Australia, at the age of 78, his family announced. The cause of death was sudden and unexpected, according to a statement shared on Neill's Instagram page.
Neill, known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, had announced in April that he was cancer-free following treatment for stage-three blood cancer. His family stated that his passing was "blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free."
Neill was surrounded by family at the time of his passing. He was born in Omagh, Northern Ireland, in 1947 and later moved to New Zealand, where he began his acting career in the 1970s. He went on to star in numerous films and television shows, including "The Piano," "Dead Calm," and "Peaky Blinders."