'Jurassic Park' actor Sam Neill dies at 78

Key Points:

• Actor Sam Neill, famous for his roles in "Jurassic Park" and "Peaky Blinders," died suddenly at age 78, surrounded by family and cancer-free, according to his official social media statement.
• Born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, Neill began acting in college and gained early recognition with the 1977 film "Sleeping Dogs" before achieving international fame with "Jurassic Park" in 1993.
• Neill reprised his iconic role as Dr. Alan Grant in multiple "Jurassic Park" sequels and also starred in notable projects such as "Merlin," "The Tudors," and "Thor: Ragnarok," earning several awards including an OBE and a knighthood in New Zealand.
• Diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in 2022, Neill underwent chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free but continued treatment; he described writing his memoir as a vital source of strength during his illness.
• Neill is survived by his two children and the family has requested privacy while mourning; they also expressed gratitude to the medical staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney for their care.