New Zealand actor Sam Neill, who played the iconic role of Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park film franchise, passed away on Monday. He was 78 years old. His family confirmed the news by posting a statement on Monday on his Instagram page.
Sam Neill dies at 78
The statement read, “It is with immense sadness that the whānau 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.”
The statement went on to say, “The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express 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.”
About Sam Neill
Sam first achieved recognition after appearing in the film Sleeping Dogs (1977). This was followed by leading roles in projects such as Attack Force Z (1982), Dead Calm (1989), The Piano (1993), In the Mouth of Madness (1994), and Event Horizon (1997). He became an internationally popular star after portraying Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993), a role he reprised in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).