Sam Neill, best known for playing Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and for appearing as Grant in many of its subsequent sequels, has died at 78, his family says. Neill had previously fought rare form of blood cancer, but revealed in April of this year that he was cancer-free. Neill’s family announced his passing in an Instagram post made on Monday. The post featured the following statement:
“It is with immense sadness that the whänau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday, 13th July 2026, in Sydney, Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life. The loss was sudden and unexpected, but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care. 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 addition to his role as Alan Grant, Neill worked extensively in the horror genre, with acclaimed performances in films such as John Carpenter’s In the Mouth of Madness, the cult sci-fi horror Event Horizon, and Possession, in which he starred alongside Isabelle Adjani.
Sam Neill is survived by an extensive family, including his four children, Tim, Elena, adopted daughter Maiko, and Andrew.
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