Sam Neill, 'Jurassic Park' and 'Peaky Blinders' star, dies at 78
Acclaimed actor passes away months after revealing he was cancer-free
Sam Neill, the acclaimed actor best known for Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders, died at the age of 78, months after revealing he was cancer-free following treatment for a rare blood cancer.
Neill's family confirmed his death in a statement, saying he died on Monday in Sydney, Australia.
“It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing,” the statement read. “The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free.”
The family also thanked the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital for their care and requested privacy during this difficult time.
Sam Neill recently celebrated being cancer-free
The New Zealand actor was diagnosed with stage-three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in 2022 while promoting Jurassic World Dominion.
After chemotherapy stopped working, Neill underwent CAR T-cell therapy, an advanced immunotherapy treatment that modifies a patient's immune cells to fight cancer.
Earlier this year, he shared the encouraging news that scans showed no evidence of cancer.
“I've just had a scan... there is no cancer in my body,” Neill said in an interview, calling the result “extraordinary.”
He had previously spoken candidly about his illness in his memoir Did I Ever Tell You This?, revealing he had initially feared he was “possibly dying.”
Career spanned more than five decades
Neill rose to international fame as palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant in 1993's Jurassic Park, later reprising the role in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).
His career stretched across film and television, with notable performances in The Piano, The Tudors, Peaky Blinders, The Omen III and numerous Australian and New Zealand productions.
Known for his versatility, Neill earned widespread acclaim for portraying Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in The Tudors and remained a respected figure in the entertainment industry throughout his five-decade career.
Tributes pour in after actor's death
Following news of his death, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the actor, describing him as “wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic.”
“He starred in so many beloved Australian stories and earned a special place in Australian hearts,” Albanese wrote on social media.
Neill is survived by his four children: Tim, Andrew, Elena and Waiko.
