Steven Spielberg and Laura Dern have both issued tributes to their longtime collaborator Sam Neill, who passed away on Monday, July 13, at the age of 78.
The family announced, “It is with profound sorrow that Sam Neill’s whānau shares the news of his passing on Monday, 13 July, in Sydney, Australia.”
He was surrounded by family and died with the dignity that defined his life. Though the loss was sudden and unexpected, it came after a period during which he remained cancer‑free. The family wishes to thank the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their exceptional care.
Further details will be released in due course, and the family respectfully requests privacy as they cope with this profound loss.
Throughout his career, Neill appeared in a variety of films and television series, such as the horror classic Event Horizon, the Oscar‑winning drama The Piano, and the popular series Peaky Blinders. He is most widely recognized for portraying Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, a role he later reprised in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).
The director of the original film, Steven Spielberg, and Laura Dern — who portrayed Dr. Ellie Sattler in the movie — issued statements to Variety reflecting on his passing.
“Sam was my beloved lifelong friend,” Dern said. “He embodied loyalty, protectiveness, and love, all delivered with a dry wit. He was a true gentleman, the man of my dreams as a leading man. I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant.”
Spielberg expressed that he was “saddened” by Neill’s death. He added, “I owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Donaldson, Gillian Armstrong, Graham Baker and Phillip Noyce for casting Sam Neill in the roles that showcased his brilliance, ultimately leading to his casting as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park.”
He continued, “Sam was exceptionally collaborative. It was challenging for him to portray a character who treated children as messy and smelly, a stark contrast to the loving father he was in real life.”
He added, “I have cherished making all the Jurassic films with him. Alongside Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always consider ourselves part of the Jurassic family, and Sam will forever be remembered by us and his countless fans worldwide.”
Recently, Spielberg noted that Harrison Ford was initially offered the role of Grant but declined; Spielberg said he felt “crushed” at the time, but recognized that the part ultimately belonged to Neill.