Sam Neill, Beloved Actor From Jurassic Park, Passes Away at 78

WHO:

CNN - Laura Dern referred to Sam Neill as "a beloved lifetime friend" and "a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man."

CNN - Fellow New Zealand actor Karl Urban called Neill "an inspiration for many who followed in his trailblazing footsteps. A beautiful man, a national treasure who gave so much to New Zealand and to the world."

CNN - Laura Dern described Sam Neill as a “beloved lifetime friend” and “a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man.”

CNN - Fellow New Zealand actor Karl Urban called Neill “an inspiration for many who followed in his trailblazing footsteps. A beautiful man, a national treasure who gave so much to New Zealand and to the world.”

CBS News - Sam Neill is survived by four children and eight grandchildren.

CBS News - Sam Neill, actor known for his roles in "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano," has died at the age of 78.

CBS News - Neill was surrounded by family at the time of his passing.

WHAT:

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he passed "with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

CBS News - Neill's family expressed gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.

CBS News - Neill's family shared that he was a vintner who produced wines under his Two Paddocks brand.

CBS News - Neill often named his farm animals after celebrities and friends, including "Laura Dern the chicken," "Kylie Minogue the duck," and "Helena Bonham Carter the cow."

CBS News - Neill's memoir "Did I Ever Tell You This?" was published in March 2023.

CBS News - Neill was awarded a knighthood for his "outstanding contribution to film," a title approved by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

CNN - Neill was a passionate environmental activist and released a short documentary opposing a proposed fast-track, industrial goldmine in New Zealand’s Central Otago region in early 2026.

CBS News - Neill was awarded many accolades throughout his career, including the Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1991 and a knighthood from New Zealand in 2022.

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he passed "with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

CNN - Neill's family expressed gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.

CNN - Neill's family stated, “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.”

NY Post - Sam Neill was all smiles at a music hall of fame ceremony just weeks before his death.

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he died on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia.

CBS News - Neill's family shared that he passed "with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

CBS News - Neill's family expressed that his death was "sudden and unexpected," and a cause of death wasn't specified.

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he died "surrounded by family" and that his death was "sudden and unexpected."

CBS News - Neill's family expressed that he passed "with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

CBS News - Neill's family shared that he was a vintner who produced wines under his Two Paddocks brand.

CBS News - Neill often named his farm animals after celebrities and friends, including "Laura Dern the chicken," "Kylie Minogue the duck," and "Helena Bonham Carter the cow."

CBS News - Neill's memoir "Did I Ever Tell You This?" was published in March 2023.

CBS News - Neill was awarded a knighthood for his "outstanding contribution to film," a title approved by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

CBS News - Neill expressed gratitude for his friends and every day in light of his cancer diagnosis and treatment.

CBS News - Neill's family announced his death on Instagram, stating, "It is with immense sadness that the whānau [family] of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia."

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he "remained cancer free" when he died, despite having been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2023.

CBS News - Neill disclosed this year that he was cancer-free thanks to a genetic therapy that modified his immune system.

CBS News - Neill was a vintner and produced pinot noir and riesling wines from his winery in the Central Otago region of New Zealand's South Island.

CBS News - Neill was born in 1947 in Northern Ireland and later emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 7.

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he "remained cancer free" when he died, despite having been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2023.

CBS News - Neill's family described his death as "sudden and unexpected," and a cause of death wasn't specified.

CBS News - Neill's family shared that he passed "with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

Deadline - Sam Neill was a multiple Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy nominee.

Deadline - Neill's family stated he died "with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

Deadline - Neill's family announced his death on Instagram, stating, "It is with immense sadness that the whānau [family] of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia."

NY Post - Sam Neill was all smiles at a music hall of fame ceremony just weeks before his death.

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he died "surrounded by family" and that his death was "sudden and unexpected."

CBS News - Neill's family expressed that he passed "with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he died "surrounded by family" and that his death was "sudden and unexpected."

CBS News - Neill's family expressed that he passed "with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

CBS News - Neill's death was described as "sudden and unexpected," and a cause of death wasn't specified.

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he "remained cancer free" when he died, despite having been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2023.

CBS News - Neill disclosed this year that he was cancer-free thanks to a genetic therapy that modified his immune system.

CBS News - Neill was awarded a knighthood for his "outstanding contribution to film," a title approved by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

CBS News - Neill expressed gratitude for his friends and every day in light of his cancer diagnosis and treatment.

CBS News - Neill was described as a "smoothly elegant and versatile actor" whose career spanned from art films to blockbusters.

CBS News - Neill's family stated that he passed "with the dignity that has characterized his whole life."

CBS News - Neill was one of many actors who gained international fame following the rise of Australian films in the late 1970s.

CBS News - Neill earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the 1998 mini-series "Merlin" and another for narrating "Wild New Zealand" in 2017.

CBS News - Neill's character in "Jurassic Park," Alan Grant, warned about the dangers of mixing dinosaurs and humans, stating, "Dinosaurs and man, two species separated by 65 million years of evolution have just been suddenly thrown back into the mix together."

CBS News - Neill's character returned for "Jurassic World: Dominion" in 2022.

CBS News - Neill's family shared that he was a vintner who produced wines under his Two Paddocks brand.

CBS News - Neill often named his farm animals after celebrities and friends, including "Kylie Minogue the duck."

CBS News - Neill's memoir "Did I Ever Tell You This?" was published in March 2023.

CBS News - Neill was awarded a knighthood for his "outstanding contribution to film," a title approved by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

CBS News - Neill expressed gratitude for his friends and every day in light of his cancer diagnosis and treatment.

CBS News - Sam Neill died at the age of 78, as confirmed by a family statement.

CBS News - His death was described as "sudden and unexpected."

CBS News - Neill's family stated he "remained cancer free" when he died.

CBS News - Neill's family shared the news of his passing on social media.

NY Post - The family announced his death on Instagram, expressing "immense sadness."