“Jurassic Park” star Sam Neill passed away on July 13 in Sydney, Australia, at the age of 78. Following his untimely passing, many of his former co-stars have released statements, tributing his legacy and celebrating the person he was. This includes his “Dead Calm” co-star, Nicole Kidman.
Kidman and Neill starred in Phillip Noyce‘s 1989 thriller “Dead Calm.” Following his passing, the actress issued a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald, noting the emotional toll her former co-star’s death had caused.
She stated, “Sam was one of the greats, a joy to be around. We met when I was just 18, and he took me under his wing, and we stayed friends for life. He was charming, kind, funny and intelligent. He will be greatly missed, and my heart goes out to his family.”
Kidman also said she was “immensely saddened” by his passing. It’s also important to note that Kidman and Neill remained in contact following “Dead Calm.” According to Page Six, they even reunited on a “Big Little Lies” panel in 2019.
Sam Neill Passed Away Suddenly
Neill’s family confirmed his passing via an emotional social media statement on July 13. They said, “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”
After that, the grieving family called the actor’s death “sudden and unexpected,” before noting that they were “blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free.” The family went on to thank the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, highlighting the “incredible care” the “Deal Calm” star received.
The statement concluded, “More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”
Fans Are Beside Themselves Over The ‘Jurassic Park’ Star’s Death
Neill’s career spanned decades, dating back to the early 1970s. Over the years, he appeared in many of the biggest films, including 1993’s “Jurassic Park.” Because of this, many of his fans are paying tribute to his legacy, with some recalling seeing his movies in theaters.
One person wrote, “The first time I saw Sam Neill in a film was ‘Jurassic Park.’ I saw it in theaters back in 1993. I always thought his performance was brilliant. Rest well, sir.”
Someone else said, “Took my 11-year-old son out of school so we could see the matinee in 1993.” A different fan wrote, “This one really hurts. Jurassic Park is one of my, and prob everyone’s, favorite films. His performance as Alan Grant is so perfect. RIP to a legend.”
After that, a different person highlighted another of Neill’s roles, saying, “Many people remember him for Jurassic Park, but few know about this performance in Thor Ragnarok, RIP Sam Neill.”
Sam Neill First Shared Cancer Diagnosis In 2023
Neill opened up about his cancer diagnosis in his 2023 memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You This.” Specifically, the actor stated that he had Stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, which is a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He spoke to The Guardian in 2023 about the disease and his prospects. He stated, “I’m not afraid to die, but it would annoy me. Because I’d really like another decade or two, you know?”
Neill continued, “We’ve built all these lovely terraces, we’ve got these olive trees and cypresses, and I want to be around to see it all mature. And I’ve got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big.”
The actor added, “But as for the dying? I couldn’t care less.”
Sam Revealed He Was Cancer Free In April
Neill gave an update to 7News in April 2026, revealing that a recent scan detected no cancer present in his body. He began, “I’ve been living with a particular type of lymphoma for about five years, and I was on chemotherapy, [which is] pretty miserable business but it was keeping me alive.”
Neill continued, “I’ve just had a scan just now, and there is no cancer in my body, that’s an extraordinary thing.” This news came after the treatments previously stopped working, with him revealing, “I was at a loss and it looked like I was on the way out – which wasn’t ideal obviously.”
