New Zealand actor Sam Neill died suddenly at age 78 on Monday, July 13th, 2026, in Sydney, Australia, according to a statement shared by his family on his Instagram page. Neill was known for his iconic roles in films such as Jurassic Park and The Piano.

In 2023, Neill disclosed that he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite undergoing treatment for stage-three blood cancer, he announced in April 2026 that he was cancer-free.

His family described his passing as "sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free." Neill was surrounded by family members at the time of his death.

Neill's death was confirmed through a statement posted to his social media page and widely reported by news outlets including NPR News and Fox News.

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