‘Hero, legend, sweetheart’: Tributes to Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill, who has died aged 78

Tributes have been paid to actor Sam Neill, famed for his starring role in Jurassic Park, following his death at the age of 78.

The news was announced by his family, who said his death in Sydney, Australia, was “sudden and unexpected”.

Neill played Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and also appeared in films including The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Dead Calm and Event Horizon, as well as BBC TV drama Peaky Blinders.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described him as “one of the greats”, while Australian actress Toni Collette wrote: “I love you, dear Sam. You hero. You legend. You sweetheart. Our great friend. You are already missed so very much.”

Neill, who was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in New Zealand, died “surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life”, a statement said.

In March 2023, Sir Sam revealed he had been undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

He later said the disease was in remission but he would require monthly chemotherapy for the rest of his life.

In April 2026, Neill said a scan showed no cancer in his body, and his family’s statement on Monday said he “remained cancer free” at the time of his death.

The statement thanked hospital staff and added: “More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”

In his tribute, Luxon said: “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.”

Former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern wrote that Neill was “such a thoughtful, curious, and decent person”.

“We’ve lost another incredible kiwi, and I feel profoundly sad,” she added.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also paid tribute, writing on X that he “starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts”.

Australian pop superstar Kylie Minogue responded to the announcement of Neill’s death with “Vale [goodbye] Sam” alongside a broken heart emoji.

British actor Richard E Grant wrote that he knew his fellow actor for three decades, saying Neill had “guided and helped me through a very difficult time in my life”, and describing him as “an officer and a gentleman in the truest sense”.

Also paying tribute, Colin Trevorrow, who directed Neill in 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion, described him as “a deeply soulful and beautiful man”.

“He was a friend and collaborator at a challenging time, and his strength gave us all strength,” he said.

“I’ll remember him for his tranquillity, his love of wine, and for the calm assuredness he brought to his characters. It’s not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend.”

Joe Cole, Neill’s co-star in Peaky Blinders, posted: “Rest in peace big dog.”

Daisy Ridley, who is set to star alongside Neill in the not-yet-released film The Last Resort, posted a picture of herself with Neill on her Instagram story alongside three broken heart emojis.

Born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Omagh, Northern Ireland, in 1947, he moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, with his family as a child.

He adopted the name Sam at the age of 12 because there were several Nigels at his school.

He began acting while studying at the University of Canterbury and made his film debut in 1971’s The City of No. After a number of television and film roles in New Zealand, he gained wider recognition in the 1977 film Sleeping Dogs, one of the country’s first films to achieve international distribution.

He later moved to Australia, where he starred in My Brilliant Career (1979), a film that helped establish him as a leading actor.

Neill achieved global fame in 1993 through his performances in Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning The Piano and as palaeontologist Dr Grant in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park.

He reprised the role in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022), and voiced the character in three video games based on the series.

Neill also found success on television, playing the sadistic, corrupt police officer Major Chester Campbell in the first two series of the BBC’s Peaky Blinders.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, he amassed more than 150 screen credits.

His last film appearance came in The Fox (2025) and his last TV appearance came in Netflix series Untamed (2025). He is expected to make posthumous appearances in Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and The Last Resort in 2027.

Neill was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1991 for services to acting. He was later made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 and accepted a knighthood in 2022 after changes to New Zealand’s honours system allowed recipients to adopt titular honours.

In his 2023 memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, he revealed details of his cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“I’m not afraid of dying,” he told the BBC at the time. “What I don’t want to do is to stop living, because I really enjoy living.”

He added: “I’ve regarded it as an adventure, quite a dark adventure, but an adventure nevertheless.”

Sir Sam Neill is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren.