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Sam Neill Dies at 78

Family requested privacy, noting he remained cancer-free and that more details will be shared later.

Overview

  • Neill’s family confirmed he died in Sydney and said the loss was “sudden and unexpected,” adding he was surrounded by family and remained cancer-free.
  • The actor first disclosed a rare blood cancer diagnosis in 2022 and announced in April 2026 that CAR T‑cell therapy given in a clinical trial had put him into remission.
  • Across more than five decades Neill built a global career with more than 150 credits, best known as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and for roles in The Piano, The Hunt for Red October and Peaky Blinders.
  • Leaders, filmmakers and co-stars paid tribute in public statements, including Australia’s prime minister and New Zealand’s prime minister as well as Steven Spielberg, Laura Dern and other colleagues.
  • The family thanked St Vincent’s Private Hospital for its care, withheld a cause of death and said additional information will be released later, a statement that may renew attention to CAR T‑cell access and blood‑cancer treatment options.