Sam Neill, "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano" star, dies at 78
Acclaimed actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in 'Jurassic Park' and 'The Piano,' has passed away at age 78. Neill had been battling a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and died suddenly in Sydney.
Why it matters
Neill was a highly respected figure in international cinema, and his death marks the loss of a versatile talent who bridged the gap between art-house films and major blockbusters.
Wellington, New Zealand — Sam Neill, a smoothly elegant and versatile actor whose career moved from art film to blockbuster as he dodged velociraptors in "Jurassic Park" to playing Holly Hunter's husband in "The Piano," has died. He was 78.In 2023, Neill disclosed he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Neill died on Monday in Sydney, according to a family statement posted to the actor's social media page. His death was "sudden and unexpected," the statement said, adding that he "remained cancer free" when he died. A cause of death wasn't specified.Neill disclosed this year that he was cancer-free thanks to a genetic therapy that modified his immune system, French news agency AFP says.
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