Director Steven Spielberg has expressed his sadness following the death of actor Sam Neill at the age of 78. Neill, widely recognized for his portrayal of paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in the "Jurassic Park" franchise, passed away on Monday in Sydney, Australia.
Neill's family announced his death in a statement shared on his Instagram page, describing it as "sudden and unexpected." The actor had been battling a type of blood cancer and had revealed in April that he was cancer-free following a lengthy treatment regimen. He had previously spoken about undergoing CAR T-cell therapy, a costly, cutting-edge treatment.
Spielberg shared his sentiments in a statement to The Daily Mail, acknowledging the directors who first brought Neill to his attention. "I owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Donaldson, Gilliam Armstrong, Graham Baker and Phillip Noyce for casting Sam Neill in the roles in which he was so brilliant that brought him to my attention and led to his playing Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park," Spielberg said.
Recalling their work together, Spielberg noted Neill's collaborative spirit and his dedication to his roles. "Sam was exceptionally collaborative. It was a stretch for him to play a character who acted as though children were messy and smelly because this was the opposite of the loving father he was to his children," he stated. "I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him. Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our Jurassic family and Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world."
Neill's family tribute stated, "It is with immense sadness that the whānau (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life." They also expressed gratitude to the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney for their care.
Neill, born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Ireland, moved to New Zealand in 1954. He gained international recognition for his role in the 1993 film "Jurassic Park," reprising it in "Jurassic Park III" (2001) and "Jurassic World Dominion" (2022). His other acting credits include "The Simpsons," "Peaky Blinders," and "The Tudors." He had been working on "Godzilla x Kong: Supernova" and "The Last Resort," both slated for posthumous release in 2027.
In his memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This," Neill wrote about his health, stating he was not afraid of dying but would be "annoyed" by it as he had more he wished to accomplish, including seeing his olive trees mature and his grandchildren grow.
Neill is survived by his son Tim, and daughters Elena and Maiko.