Veteran New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known for his roles in Jurassic Park, The Piano and Peaky Blinders, has died at the age of 78.

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His family announced his death on Monday in a statement shared on his official Instagram account. They said Neill died peacefully in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by loved ones. The family did not disclose the cause of death.

Neill had revealed in 2023 that doctors diagnosed him with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2022. He later said his cancer had gone into remission.

In a statement, his family described his death as “sudden and unexpected”. They also thanked the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their care and asked for privacy during their mourning.

Tributes honour an iconic actor

Tributes poured in soon after the announcement.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Neill as one of the country’s most admired performers. He highlighted the actor’s wit, dignity and lasting contribution to film and television.

Born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Northern Ireland in 1947, Neill moved to New Zealand with his family as a child. He initially studied law before choosing acting and launched his screen career with Sleeping Dogs in 1977.

Five decades on screen

Neill built a career that spanned more than 50 years and included over 150 film and television credits.

He achieved international fame in 1993 by starring as Dr Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park and as Alisdair Stewart in Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning The Piano. He later returned as Alan Grant in Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World Dominion.

His extensive film credits included My Brilliant Career, Dead Calm, The Hunt for Red October, Event Horizon, The Dish, The Jungle Book, Peter Rabbit and Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

Television audiences also recognised him as Major Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders. He appeared in The Tudors, Reilly, Ace of Spies, The Twelve, and made guest appearances in The Simpsons and Rick and Morty.

Life beyond the screen

Away from acting, Neill lived on his vineyard, Two Paddocks, in New Zealand’s Central Otago region. He frequently shared moments from vineyard life with his followers on social media.

In his 2023 memoir, Did I Ever Tell You About This?, Neill spoke openly about his battle with blood cancer. He explained that the disease had gone into remission but that he continued to receive monthly treatment.

During his career, Neill received numerous honours, including appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and a knighthood under the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022.

He is survived by his four children and six grandchildren.