Sam Neill is dead. The New Zealand actor, known worldwide from the "Jurassic Park" series (1993-2022) and the Oscar-winning film "Das Piano" (1993), passed away on Monday, July 13, at the age of 78 in Sydney, Australia. His family confirmed the news in a statement on Instagram, which was quoted by, among others, the Australian broadcaster "Nine" and the U.S. trade publication "Deadline".
According to his relatives, Neill was not alone in his final moments. "Sam was surrounded by his family and passed with the dignity that defined his entire life", the statement reads. It was written on behalf of the whānau, as family is called in Māori. The word references the deep connection of Northern Ireland-born Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill to his adopted homeland of New Zealand.
Death came unexpectedly
For his relatives, the end apparently came as a surprise. In their statement, they emphasized that the actor had recently been free of cancer. "The loss came suddenly and unexpectedly, but was blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free", the family said. They did not initially comment on the exact circumstances.
The surviving family members expressly thanked the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney, where Neill had been cared for. At the same time, they asked the public for restraint. "We ask that you respect the family's privacy as they process this immeasurable loss", they wrote.
From a child in Northern Ireland to a global star
Neill was born in 1947 in Omagh, Northern Ireland. In 1954, the family moved to the South Pacific homeland of his father, to New Zealand. In 2022, the actor was knighted as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
His breakthrough as an international audience favorite came with his role in the "Jurassic Park" series. Neill also appeared in the series "Peaky Blinders" and numerous independent film productions. For his work, he was nominated multiple times for the Golden Globe and the Primetime Emmy.
