Sir Sam Neill has died aged 78 in Sydney, Australia, with his family confirming he died on 13 July while surrounded by relatives and remained cancer-free following treatment for stage-three blood cancer diagnosed in 2023.
Neill, who lived in Central Otago and owned the ‘Two Paddocks’ vineyard, had a film and television career spanning more than five decades, with notable roles including Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, The Piano, Sleeping Dogs, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and The Twelve. He received an OBE in 1991, an honorary doctorate from the University of Canterbury in 2002, the New Zealand Screen Legend Award in 2025, and multiple Australian Logie Awards.
He is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren.
