Sydney, July 16,(Redazione/Adnkronos/GNA) – Sam Neill, the celebrated New Zealand actor, star of the film ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993), has died at 78 from pneumonia.
His long-time agent Philip Grenz confirmed the cause of death today. The actor’s family had described the death as “sudden and unexpected.” Neill pass away last Monday in in Sydney hospital, Australia, leaving behind four children and eight grandchildren.
The actor had revealed in 2023 that he had been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer diagnosed several years prior. In the months leading up to his death, however, he had announced he was in remission, and family members confirmed he remained cancer-free. “Sam died from pneumonia.
Before falling ill, he had bravely fought against lymphoma and defeated it thanks to CAR-T therapy,” Grenz stated, explaining that Neill had continued to work intensely. In the last year, he had filmed four consecutive projects, set to be released in the coming months.
Born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, Sam Neill was also known for his great privacy. “He was an extremely private man who detested attracting attention,” his agent recalled, adding that the family will organize a private ceremony at his farm in New Zealand on a date yet to be determined.
News of his death has prompted numerous tributes from the world of cinema and politics. Actress Laura Dern, his co-star in “Jurassic Park,” remembered him as “a beloved friend for life.”
Australian actress, Toni Collette, called him a “hero,” a “legend,” and a “special while person,” while New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke of “one of the great actors.”
Steven Spielberg, director of “Jurassic Park,” also paid tribute to the actor. “Sam Neill was an exceptionally collaborative performer and a professional I loved working with. With Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always remain a Jurassic family,” he sad.
During a career spanning over fifty years, Neill accumulated more than 150 appearances in film and television. In addition to his role as paleontologist Alan Grant in “Jurassic Park,” he starred in films such as “The Piano,” “The Hunt for Red October,” “Dead Calm.” He also captivated television audiences with his participation in the series “Peaky Blinders.”
His final appearances will event come after his death. The actor will be featured in the films “Godzilla x Kong: Supernova” and “The Last Resort,” for scheduled 2027.
In 2023, in his autobiography “Did I Ever Tell You This?”, he had recounted his relationship with illness and the time he had left. “I’m not afraid to die,” he had said in a BBC interview. “What I don’t want is to stop living, because I really like living.”
GNA