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Sam Neill has died. The New Zealand actor, known worldwide for his role as paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, was 78 years old.
His family shared the news on social media Monday, July 13, describing his death as “sudden and unexpected.” It’s a particularly hard blow given where things stood just months earlier — Neill had announced in April that he was cancer-free, following a diagnosis with a rare form of blood cancer back in 2022. He’d gone into remission in 2023, and his family confirmed that status remained unchanged right up until his passing.
Tributes have poured in from across Hollywood.
Steven Spielberg, who directed Neill in the original 1993 Jurassic Park and its sequels, gave a statement to Variety saying he was “saddened” by the news. He credited several directors — Roger Donaldson, Gillian Armstrong, Graham Baker and Phillip Noyce — for casting Neill in earlier roles that eventually caught his attention.
“I owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Donaldson, Gilliam Armstrong, Graham Baker and Phillip Noyce for casting Sam Neill in the roles in which he was so brilliant that brought him to my attention and led to his playing Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park,” Spielberg said, referencing Neill’s work in Sleeping Dogs, My Brilliant Career, The Final Conflict and Dead Calm.
Spielberg added that Neill was “exceptionally collaborative” on set — noting the irony that playing a character annoyed by children required some acting, since Neill was, by all accounts, a devoted father himself.
“I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him. Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our Jurassic family and Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world.”
Nicole Kidman, who starred opposite Neill in 1989’s Dead Calm, called herself “immensely saddened” by his death. She told the Sydney Morning Herald that the pair met when she was just 18, and that he “took me under his wing” — the two stayed close friends for decades afterward.
“Sam was one of the greats, a joy to be around. He was charming, kind, funny and intelligent. He will be greatly missed, and my heart goes out to his family.”
Laura Dern, Neill’s Jurassic Park co-star, offered one of the more personal statements.
“Sam was my beloved lifetime friend… He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit. A true and noble gentleman, who was wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant.”
Russell Crowe also paid tribute on social media, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“Sam Neil. Kind, wise, impish, graceful, warm. The last time I saw him I took the opportunity to tell him he was an inspiration to me. Rest in Peace Sam.” — Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 13, 2026
Cillian Murphy, who worked with Neill on Peaky Blinders, echoed similar sentiments to Deadline.
“Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired him and adored him in equal measure. He was one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors. RIP.”
Chris Pratt, Neill’s co-star in 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion, called himself “devastated” in an Instagram story.
“It was a privilege getting to work with him. All the laughs and memories, I’ll cherish forever. He is a true legend.”
A career that spanned decades and genres
Beyond the dinosaur franchise that made him a household name, Neill built a career most actors only dream of. He appeared in Possession, The Hunt for Red October, The Piano, In the Mouth of Madness, and Event Horizon — a run that showed real range, from prestige drama to horror to big-budget action.
Fellow New Zealander Karl Urban, who acted alongside Neill in Thor: Ragnarok, posted a tribute calling him “an inspiration for many who followed in his trailblazing footsteps.”
“A beautiful man, a national treasure who gave so much to New Zealand and the world. God speed Sam.”
Neill’s most recent screen credits include both Jurassic World Dominion and Thor: Love and Thunder, both released in 2022. He also appeared in the Netflix series Untamed, which came out in 2025.
At the time of his passing, Neill had already wrapped filming on two projects yet to hit screens — The Last Resort and Godzilla x Kong: Supernova. Whether either will now carry some kind of tribute or dedication to the actor remains unclear.
Our thoughts are with Neill’s friends, family and the countless fans he connected with over a career spanning nearly five decades. Rest in peace, Sam.
