We are very sad to announce that Sam Neill has passed away, according to multiple news sources, including CNN.

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Sam Neill was an actor best known for playing Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park movie series. While he recently battled a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer, he was cancer-free in April, and a statement released by his family said: “The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free.”

Neill was born in New Zealand and passed away at the age of 78. The statement also said, “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with dignity that has characterized his whole life.”

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In 2023, Neill told CNN, “It’s been a very happy, surprisingly life” when talking about the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park. “I never expected to have a career in film at all, or even as an actor. But it kind of happened, and no one’s more surprised than me.”

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While seeing him stand in the jeep when he first saw Jurassic Park will always be an iconic movie moment for all of us, he also had some Disney roles, including a comedic cameo in Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder in 2017 and 2022.

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Outside his life in Hollywood, he spent much of his time on his sprawling New Zealand farm. He even named some of his farm animals after Hollywood icons that he shared on social media, including one of the animals named Meryl Streep.

Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.