Sam Neill, the acclaimed New Zealand actor known for Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders, has died at the age of 78.

Neill died on Monday in Sydney, Australia. News of his death was shared by his family in a statement posted on Instagram. They described the loss as sudden and unexpected.

“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 statement reads.

The statement also thanked staff at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney for their care. Family members requested privacy as they mourn the actor’s passing.

Battle With Cancer

In 2022, Neill was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The actor spoke publicly about the illness in 2023. Treatment later placed the disease in remission. According to his family, he was cancer-free when he died.

A Career That Reached Millions

Born in Northern Ireland in 1947, Neill grew up in New Zealand and became one of the country’s best-known actors.

Worldwide recognition came after he played Dr Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. Audiences later saw him return in Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World Dominion.

Other notable films included The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Dead Calm, Event Horizon, and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

Television viewers also knew him as Chief Inspector Chester Campbell in the crime drama Peaky Blinders. Another memorable role came in the historical series The Tudors.

Leaders Pay Tribute

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Neill as “one of the greats”.

“He started when there was ⁠barely a film ⁠industry in this country to speak of. For more than fifty years, he took ‌New Zealand stories to the world, and his talents helped make ‌our ‌film industry into what it is today, one of our greatest cultural exports,” Luxon wrote in a social media post.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also honoured the late actor.

“Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam ‌fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest ⁠in peace,” he wrote.