‘Sudden and unexpected’: New Zealand actor Sam Neill dies aged 78 – as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leads tributes to Jurassic Park star
New Zealand actor Sam Neill died on Monday at age 78 while "surrounded by family" - with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leading the tributes to the Jurassic Park star.
Sir Sam Neill has died at the age of 78.
The New Zealand actor, who starred in blockbuster films such as Jurassic Park and The Piano, passed away in Sydney on Monday, a statement from his family revealed.
“It is with immense sadness that the whanau (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia,” the statement began, as shared on his Instagram page.
=Sam Neill attends the 2025 AACTA Awards Presented By Foxtel Group at HOTA (Home of the Arts) on February 07, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images for AFI
“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life,” they added.
“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free.”
The family then expressed their “deepest gratitude” to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.
“More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss,” the statement ended.
Actor Sam Neill as Dr. Alan Grant, with Ariana Richards (left) and Joseph Mazzello (right) as Lex and Tim, in a scene from the film ‘Jurassic Park’, 1993. Picture: Murray Close/Getty Images
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the tributes to the beloved star.
“Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts,” he shared on X, formerly Twitter.
“Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance.”
Finishing off the post, he wrote: “He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest in peace.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon also celebrated the actor’s life on X, writing: “Sir Sam Neill was one of the greats.
“He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of. For more than fifty years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today – one of our greatest cultural exports. His work will be watched and loved long after all of us.”
He added: “Our thoughts are with his family and friends tonight. Rest in Peace.”
Neill enjoyed an impressive career on the screen, earning himself a knighthood in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to film” in 2022.
His breakout role was in the 1977 film Sleeping Dogs, and he went on to star in other major movies such as My Brilliant Career in 1979 and Dead Calm in 1989 alongside Nicole Kidman.
However, he became a household name after starring alongside Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum in the 1993 dinosaur flick, Jurassic Park.
Earlier this year, Neill revealed that he was cancer-free after taking part in a clinical trial in Australia.
The Ireland-born actor was diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma called angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) in 2022.
After a four-year blood cancer battle, he revealed on 7News in April that “there is no cancer in my body” after he took part in the CAR T-cell therapy clinical trial, adding: “That’s an extraordinary thing.”
