Actor Sam Neill of ‘Jurassic Park’ Dies at 78 in Sydney
10 verified4 unconfirmed2 contested
Actor Sam Neill, best known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, has died at the age of 78. His family announced his passing on his official Instagram account on July 13, 2026, stating he died in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by family. The statement described the death as "sudden and unexpected" and noted that Neill was cancer-free at the time, following his 2023 diagnosis with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Neill, who was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in New Zealand, rose to international fame with Jurassic Park and also starred in films such as The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, and Dead Calm. He was also known for his television roles in Peaky Blinders and the miniseries Merlin, and ran a vineyard in New Zealand's Otago region. The sources differ on the number of surviving children and grandchildren, as well as the year his family moved to New Zealand.
What’s verified
Sam Neill died at age 78 on July 13, 2026, in Sydney, Australia.
His death was announced via a statement on his official Instagram account.
The family described the death as sudden and unexpected, and said Neill was cancer-free.
Neill was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2023.
He was best known for playing Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 film Jurassic Park.
He also starred in The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, and Dead Calm.
Neill was born in Omagh, Northern Ireland, and moved to New Zealand as a child.
He published his memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This?", in 2023.
He owned a vineyard in the Central Otago region of New Zealand.
He was survived by children and grandchildren, though the exact numbers are disputed.
Where accounts differ
The number of surviving children: One source reported three children (Andrew, Tim, and Elena) and six grandchildren; another source reported four children and eight grandchildren.
The year the Neill family moved to New Zealand: One source reported 1955; another reported 1954.
Not yet confirmed
One source reported that Neill was awarded a knighthood in New Zealand in 2022.
One source reported that a scan in April 2026 showed no cancer in his body.
The exact date of his family's move from Northern Ireland to New Zealand is not consistently reported.
The names of the children and grandchildren beyond those listed in one source are not provided.
Key figures
Sam Neill – actor
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, dw.com
