Overview
- Sam Neill’s whānau announced that he died suddenly in Sydney on Monday, July 13, and said he was surrounded by family when he passed.
- The family called the death unexpected, did not give a cause, and asked the public to respect their privacy while promising further information.
- Cillian Murphy and the Peaky Blinders team issued immediate tributes, with Murphy calling Neill “one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people” and praising his acting.
- Neill built a five-decade career with more than 150 screen credits, best known for roles such as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and Major Inspector Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders.
- Reporters noted that Neill had said he was cancer-free two months earlier after treatment for a rare lymphoma, but the family has not linked that illness to his sudden death.