Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor best known for his role as paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, has died at the age of 78. The news was confirmed by his family on July 13, 2026.
Neill's career spanned over five decades, with notable performances in films such as The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, and the television series Peaky Blinders. He was diagnosed with stage 3 T-cell lymphoma in 2022 but had publicly stated in 2023 that he was in remission.
Born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, Neill was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1991 for his services to film. He is survived by his two children.
