Sam Neill, Jurassic Park star, dies at 78

Veteran New Zealand actor Sam Neill has died at the age of 78. He first captured audiences as the palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park, a role he subsequently reprised in the franchise’s sequels.

Sam Neill in Jurassic Park
Neill starred in the original Jurassic Park film alongside Laura Dern and Richard Attenborough.

His early career was also marked by the infamous role of the antichrist Damien in the 1981 horror film The Omen III and his later starring in the psychological thriller Dead Calm with Nicole Kidman.

Sam Neill in The Omen
Neill’s performance as Damien in The Omen III showcased his range beyond mainstream blockbusters.

In the late 1990s he ventured into space with the sci‑fi thriller Event Horizon, followed by a notable TV return as Major Chester Campbell in BBC’s Peaky Blinders.

Sam Neill as Major Chester Campbell
Crime drama series Peaky Blinders showcases the image of Neill as a ruthless major.

A diverse body of work also includes the fantasy series Merlin (1998‑2006), the mystery drama Apples Never Fall and others. The film and television world mourns a performer whose work spanned several genres and earned him international acclaim.