Sam Neill, beloved ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’ star, dies unexpectedly

Veteran New Zealand actor Sam Neill, celebrated for his performances in Jurassic Park, The Piano and Peaky Blinders, has died at the age of 78.

His family announced his death on Monday through a statement shared on his official Instagram account, confirming that Neill passed away peacefully in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by his family. No cause of death was disclosed. The actor had previously revealed he had been diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2022, but recently said he was cancer-free.

Tributes quickly poured in following the announcement. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remembered Neill as a beloved figure in Australian cinema, praising his wit, dignity and enduring contribution to film and television.

Born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Northern Ireland in 1947, the actor moved to New Zealand with his family as a child. After initially studying law, he pursued acting and began his career in theatre before breaking into film with Sleeping Dogs in 1977.

Neill went on to build a career spanning more than five decades and over 150 screen credits. He rose to international prominence in 1993 with his roles as Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park and Alisdair Stewart in Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning The Piano. He later reprised the role of Alan Grant in Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World Dominion.

His filmography also included My Brilliant Career, Dead Calm, The Hunt for Red October, Event Horizon, The Dish, The Jungle Book, Peter Rabbit and Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople. On television, he was widely recognized for portraying Major Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders, alongside roles in The Tudors, Reilly, Ace of Spies, The Twelve, and guest appearances in The Simpsons and Rick and Morty.

Away from acting, Neill lived on his vineyard, Two Paddocks, in New Zealand’s Central Otago region and often shared glimpses of life on the farm with fans.

In 2023, Neill revealed his battle with blood cancer in his memoir Did I Ever Tell You About This?, explaining that although his cancer had gone into remission, he continued receiving monthly treatment.

Throughout his career, Neill received numerous honours, including an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and a knighthood under the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022.

He is survived by his four children and six grandchildren.