Sydney: Acclaimed actor Sam Neill, best known for his performances in ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘The Piano’, has died at the age of 78.

In a statement, Neill's family said he passed away peacefully in Sydney, surrounded by his loved ones.

"Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that characterised his whole life," the statement read. It also noted that the actor had remained cancer-free at the time of his death.

According to a message shared on Neill's official social media accounts, his death was "sudden and unexpected". No cause of death was disclosed.

In 2023, Neill revealed that he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. His family confirmed that he had overcome the illness before his passing.

Over a career spanning several decades, Neill earned global recognition for his versatility, moving effortlessly between independent dramas and major Hollywood productions. He became a household name as Dr Alan Grant in ‘Jurassic Park’, while also delivering acclaimed performances in films such as ‘The Piano’.

Neill was among the generation of Australian and New Zealand screen talents who rose to international prominence during the boom of Australasian cinema in the late 1970s and beyond, alongside names such as Paul Hogan, Mel Gibson, Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe, Jane Campion, Peter Weir and Gillian Armstrong.

Agency inputs