WELLINGTON — Tributes continued to pour in on Wednesday for New Zealand actor Sam Neill after his death at the age of 78, with colleagues, political leaders and fans remembering a performer whose career spanned more than five decades across film and television.
Neill, best known internationally for portraying paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in the "Jurassic Park" franchise, died in Sydney on Monday. His family described his death as "sudden and unexpected" in a statement shared on his official social media accounts, adding that he was surrounded by relatives and had "passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life." The statement said Neill had remained cancer-free at the time of his death but did not disclose a cause.
The family thanked staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney for their care and asked for privacy while they mourn. They said further details would be shared at a later date.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led public tributes, describing Neill as "wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic" and saying the actor had faced illness with "dignity, humour and conviction." Albanese said Neill would be "much mourned and long remembered."
Born in Omagh, Northern Ireland, in 1947 and raised in New Zealand, Neill established himself as one of the country's most internationally recognized actors. He appeared in more than 150 film and television productions, earning acclaim for performances ranging from Jane Campion's Academy Award-winning drama "The Piano" to thrillers including "The Hunt for Red October," "Dead Calm" and "Event Horizon." He also gained a new generation of admirers through television roles, including "Peaky Blinders."
Neill publicly revealed in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Earlier this year, he announced he was cancer-free following treatment and participation in a clinical trial. His family's statement emphasized that he remained in remission when he died.
Outside acting, Neill was known for his vineyard in New Zealand's Central Otago region and for maintaining a public profile marked by humor and reflections on rural life, filmmaking and family.
According to media reports citing the family, Neill will be honored in a private funeral in keeping with his wishes, with no public memorial currently planned.
