Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor best known for Jurassic Park and The Piano, died on Monday, July 14, 2026, in Sydney. A statement posted to his social media page announced the death.
Neill was 78. The BBC described his death as sudden and unexpected, and tributes from friends, politicians, and fellow film stars followed. Among the words used to honor him: "Hero, legend, sweetheart."
NPR reported that Neill had disclosed a diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2023. That condition is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Neill built up screen credits across a five-decade career, the BBC said. His roles in Jurassic Park and The Piano brought him wide international recognition.