New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known for his roles in Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders, died from pneumonia on Monday, July 14th, 2026, at a hospital in Sydney. He was 78 years old. His family described his death as "sudden and unexpected."

Neill's longtime agent, Philip Grenz, released a statement on Thursday, July 16th, 2026, after speaking with the actor's family to clarify details amid what he described as "inaccurate and outright falsehoods" circulating in the media about the cause of death.

In April 2026, Neill had announced he was in remission after battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, which he had fought successfully using a new treatment called CAR-T therapy. Grenz noted that during the past year, Neill had "filmed four projects back-to-back... all of which will be released within the coming months."

Born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, Neill was described by Grenz as "an intensely private man who loathed a fuss." Grenz expressed gratitude to those close to Neill for respecting his privacy during this difficult time.

Australian actor Toni Collette paid tribute to Neill, calling him a "hero," "legend," and "sweetheart." New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also honored Neill, calling him "one of the greats."

Sources