‘Jurassic Park’ star Sam Neill dies at 78, months after becoming cancer-free

Sam Neill, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated actors and the face of Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, has died aged 78. His family confirmed that Neill passed away on Monday in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by loved ones. They described his death as sudden and unexpected, adding that he had remained cancer-free following treatment for blood cancer.

In a statement shared on Neill’s official Instagram account, his family said he died “with the dignity that has characterised his whole life” and thanked the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their care. They also requested privacy as they mourn his loss. The news comes only months after Neill revealed that advanced CAR T-cell therapy had left him free of cancer following a years-long battle with stage-three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. The actor had publicly celebrated the milestone earlier this year and expressed hope of returning to work.