New Zealand actor and entrepreneur Sir Sam Neill, celebrated for his roles in Jurassic Park, Merlin and Peaky Blinders, has died at the age of 78.
A post shared on social media by his family said Neill’s death in Sydney “was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free.”
Neill was diagnosed with stage-three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in 2022.
After stepping back from acting during treatment, he announced earlier this year that he was cancer-free.
“It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life,” the family said on Monday.
They described his death as “sudden and unexpected” but noted that he had remained cancer-free. The family also expressed gratitude to the staff of St Vincent’s Private Hospital for the care they provided during his final days.
Tributes have begun pouring in from fans and colleagues across the world, who remembered Neill as one of New Zealand’s finest actors, whose versatility and screen presence made him a beloved figure in both blockbuster films and critically acclaimed dramas.
Neill was born in Omagh, Northern Ireland, before moving with his family to Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1954.
He rose to prominence with the 1977 film Sleeping Dogs and went on to build an acclaimed international career that included The Hunt for Red October, The Piano, Jurassic Park and the 1998 television miniseries Merlin.