Sam Neill, the New Zealand-born actor who rose to international fame as Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 blockbuster 'Jurassic Park', has died at the age of 78. His family announced his passing on Monday, stating that he died in Sydney, eastern Australia.

A statement posted on Neill's Instagram page said: 'The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free.' The actor had revealed in 2023 that he was being treated for blood cancer.

Neill's acting career began in the 1970s, and his role in Gillian Armstrong's 1979 film 'My Brilliant Career' already brought him international recognition. He played a multitude of other TV and film roles, including the British historical crime drama 'Peaky Blinders', the US spy thriller 'The Hunt for Red October', and Jane Campion's 'The Piano', which won the top prize at Cannes in 1993.

However, it was his role as paleontologist Grant in 'Jurassic Park', alongside Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Richard Attenborough, that cemented his international standing.

In March 2023, his memoir 'Did I Ever Tell You This?' was published. He was also knighted in New Zealand in 2022 for his 'outstanding contribution to film'. In addition to acting, Neill ran vineyards in the Central Otago region of New Zealand's South Island.

Source: www.dw.com