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Updated July 13, 2026 — 4:35pm,first published 3:51pm
Sam Neill, the 78-year-old Northern Ireland-born, New Zealand-raised actor, documentarian and winemaker, has died, according to a post on his official social media channels.
“It is with immense sadness that the whānau [extended family group] of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia,” the post announced.
“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”
Neill, who was best known for his role as palaeontologist Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in March 2022. The rare and aggressive form of blood cancer has a poor prognosis, with fewer than half of those diagnosed living more than five years.
However, it appears this was not the cause of Neill’s death, which occurred in St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney.
“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free,” the post said, with Neill’s loved ones adding “they 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.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among those to publicly mourn Neill’s passing.
“Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest in peace.”
Neill wrote about his cancer diagnosis in his 2023 memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?: Movies, Life, Love and Other Catastrophes, in which he said he had “no fear of death, none whatsoever”.
“That’s not courage; that’s just realism,” he wrote. “I don’t particularly want to die on my own, that’s all. I am a single man and there is no one here to hold my hand, no partner to see me out.”
He added: “When you are in remission that is a very good place to be. Every day that you are alive is a good day, and I am having the best days of my life right now.”
Actor Rachel Griffiths, who cast Neill as Michelle Payne’s horse trainer father in her directorial debut Ride Like A Girl, commented on social media: “Such a shock – loved by so many – I’ll be cracking two paddocks tonight.”
Two Paddocks is the label under which Neill has been making wine for decades, a pursuit he took every bit as seriously as acting. Based in the Bannockburn region of Central Otago in New Zealand’s South Island, it is responsible for some high-end pinot noirs, as well as the more affordable Picnic range.
Fellow Kiwi Rebecca Gibney posted on Instagram: “In utter shock. Vale beautiful Sam. This is heartbreaking.”
Neill was nominated for a Silver Logie award two weeks ago, for best lead actor in a drama, for his role as criminal defence barrister Brett Colby in the Binge drama The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer.
It was the last of a string of roles on the big and small screen for which he will be remembered, including his breakout role as Harry Beecham in the 1979 film My Brilliant Career, opposite Judy Davis.
He was awarded AACTA’s “highest screen accolade” in 2019, the Longford Lyell Award for outstanding contribution to the Australian screen industry. It was just one of a string of awards over a career that began in 1971, including two Silver Logies for best actor for The Twelve (2025) and Jessica (2005), as well as most popular actor in 2023, again, for The Twelve.
He was also nominated multiple times for Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his work on the small screen, including nods for his role in the fantasy series Merlin.
Production company Working Dog, with whom Neill worked on the beloved Australian film The Dish in 2000, described him on Instagram as a “real gentleman”.
“A fond farewell to the brilliant Sam Neill, who left us today,” Working Dog wrote. “With our deepest respect and utter awe for his skills, kindness, craft and humour.”
More to come
