{"id":2041089,"date":"2026-07-13T06:55:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T03:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2041089"},"modified":"2026-07-13T06:55:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T03:55:22","slug":"sam-neill-jurassic-park-and-peaky-blinders-actor-dies-aged-78","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2041089","title":{"rendered":"Sam Neill, \u2018Jurassic Park\u2019 and \u2018Peaky Blinders\u2019 actor, dies aged 78"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/live-sam-neill.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Film News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Sam Neill, \u2018Jurassic Park\u2019 and \u2018Peaky Blinders\u2019 actor, dies aged 78<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The celebrated New Zealand actor\u2019s decades-spanning work saw him play romantic leads and charismatic villains\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Poppy Burton<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-13T07:55:22+01:00\">13th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/live-sam-neill-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Sam Neill\" title=\"Sam Neill\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Sam Neill, 2025. CREDIT: Chris Hyde\/Getty Images for AFI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Sam Neill, the versatile actor whose career spanned Oscar winners like <em>The Piano<\/em> to blockbusters like<em> Jurassic Park<\/em>, has died aged 78.<\/p>\n<p>News of the actor\u2019s death was confirmed by his family on social media this morning (Monday July 13). No cause of death was given, but Neill recently revealed he was cancer-free after being diagnosed with blood cancer in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is with immense sadness that the wh\u0101nau [M\u0101ori term for extended family] of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia,\u201d they wrote. \u201cSam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent\u2019s Private Hospital for their incredible care.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMore details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DauK0SrT6uJ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Born Nigel John Dermot Neill in 1947 in Omagh, Northern Ireland, Neill\u2019s mother was English, and his father a New Zealander serving in the British army. The family moved to New Zealand in 1954.<\/p>\n<p>Having decided to pursue acting after a \u201ccatastrophic\u201d year of studying law, he started out by appearing in Canterbury University productions, later moving to Wellington to join the Downstage Theatre as a professional actor.<\/p>\n<p>His breakout role came in 1977\u2019s <em>Sleeping Dogs<\/em>, the first New Zealand film to open in America. Soon after that, he landed a leading role in <em>My Brilliant Career<\/em> (1979), played the son of the devil in <em>Omen III<\/em> (1981), and the same year, appeared in Andrzej \u017bu\u0142awski\u2018s cult horror <em>Possession<\/em> (1981).<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019d later go on to star in <em>Evil Angels<\/em>, <em>The Hunt for Red October<\/em> and <em>Ivanhoe<\/em>, with the latter making Neill a big name in Sweden, where the film has aired every New Year\u2019s Day for 40 years.<\/p>\n<p>He came to widespread international attention again in 1993 with a series of powerful performances: as New Zealand settler Alisdair Stewart in Oscar-winning <em>The Piano<\/em>; and also as Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg\u2019s<em> Jurassic Park \u2013 <\/em>a role he reprised in sequels <em>Jurassic Park III<\/em> and <em>Jurassic World Dominion<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>He had more than 150 credits over his five decade career, including <em>Dead Calm, The Jungle Book, In the Mouth of Madness, Event Horizon, Bicentennial Man, The Dish <\/em>and <em>Peter Rabbi<\/em>t. He was one of the leading candidates to succeed Roger Moore as James Bond and did a screen-test for the hit spy franchise in 1986, but lost out to Timothy Dalton.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sam Neill (1947\u20132026) pic.twitter.com\/acWuPqGa2d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Letterboxd (@letterboxd) July 13, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Neill also worked in television, playing the corrupt Major Chester Campbell in <em>Peaky Blinders<\/em>, as well as appearing in <em>The Twelve, The Tudors<\/em>, and episodes of <em>The Simpsons<\/em> and <em>Rick and Morty<\/em>. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his portrayal of spy Sidney Reilly in the 1983 mini-series <em>Reilly, Ace of Spies<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, Neill revealed that he had been undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, which e shared in his memoir, <em>Did I Ever Tell You About This?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>By the time his book was published, his cancer was in remission, but he underwent monthly chemotherapy for the rest of his life.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking about his struggle with cancer previously, the actor said that he was\u00a0coming to terms with the diagnosis\u00a0but determined to spend more time with his family. \u201cI\u2019m not afraid to die, but it would annoy me,\u201d he told\u00a0<em>The Guardian\u00a0<\/em>in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d really like another decade or two. We\u2019ve built all these lovely terraces, we\u2019ve got these olive trees and cypresses. I want to be around to see it all mature,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big. But as for the dying? I couldn\u2019t care less.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Neill was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British empire in 1991 for his services to acting and a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007.<\/p>\n<p>Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese is among those paying tribute to the actor, writing on X: \u201cSam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Jurassic Park<\/li>\n<li>Peaky Blinders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Evil_Dead_Burn-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Evil_Dead_Burn-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Evil Dead Burn\u2019 review: hotly anticipated horror sequel never quite catches fire<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Bonnie-Tyler-Getty-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Bonnie-Tyler-Getty-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Bonnie Tyler, 1951\u20132026: raspy-voiced Welshwoman who captured \u201cwhat rock\u2019n\u2019roll is all about\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Assassins-Creed-Black-Flag-Resynced-Remake2-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Assassins-Creed-Black-Flag-Resynced-Remake2-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Assassin\u2019s Creed Black Flag Resynced\u2019 review: a treasure chest of sea-faring adventures<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/little-grandad-credit-xander-lewis-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/little-grandad-credit-xander-lewis-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Little Grandad: the alt-country band speeding towards stardom<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NME-HERO-HAUTE-AND-FREDDY-CREDIT-KRISTEN-JAN-WONG@2560x1707-400x267.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NME-HERO-HAUTE-AND-FREDDY-CREDIT-KRISTEN-JAN-WONG@2560x1707-800x533.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Step right up! 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data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026_laurenbennett_getty_2000x1270-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Lauren Bennett, singer on LMFAO\u2019s \u2018Party Rock Anthem\u2019, dies aged 37<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/OPENER_2026_JENNIE_CZYZEWSKI_DSC07742-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/OPENER_2026_JENNIE_CZYZEWSKI_DSC07742-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Features<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">JENNIE and Addison Rae bring an unapologetic pop spectacle to Open\u2019er Festival 2026 day four<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Sam Neill, the versatile actor whose career spanned Oscar winners like <em>The Piano<\/em> to blockbusters like<em> Jurassic Park<\/em>, has died aged 78.<\/p>\n<p>News of the actor\u2019s death was confirmed by his family on social media this morning (Monday July 13). No cause of death was given, but Neill recently revealed he was cancer-free after being diagnosed with blood cancer in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is with immense sadness that the wh\u0101nau [M\u0101ori term for extended family] of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia,\u201d they wrote. \u201cSam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent\u2019s Private Hospital for their incredible care.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMore details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DauK0SrT6uJ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Born Nigel John Dermot Neill in 1947 in Omagh, Northern Ireland, Neill\u2019s mother was English, and his father a New Zealander serving in the British army. The family moved to New Zealand in 1954.<\/p>\n<p>Having decided to pursue acting after a \u201ccatastrophic\u201d year of studying law, he started out by appearing in Canterbury University productions, later moving to Wellington to join the Downstage Theatre as a professional actor.<\/p>\n<p>His breakout role came in 1977\u2019s <em>Sleeping Dogs<\/em>, the first New Zealand film to open in America. Soon after that, he landed a leading role in <em>My Brilliant Career<\/em> (1979), played the son of the devil in <em>Omen III<\/em> (1981), and the same year, appeared in Andrzej \u017bu\u0142awski\u2018s cult horror <em>Possession<\/em> (1981).<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019d later go on to star in <em>Evil Angels<\/em>, <em>The Hunt for Red October<\/em> and <em>Ivanhoe<\/em>, with the latter making Neill a big name in Sweden, where the film has aired every New Year\u2019s Day for 40 years.<\/p>\n<p>He came to widespread international attention again in 1993 with a series of powerful performances: as New Zealand settler Alisdair Stewart in Oscar-winning <em>The Piano<\/em>; and also as Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg\u2019s<em> Jurassic Park \u2013 <\/em>a role he reprised in sequels <em>Jurassic Park III<\/em> and <em>Jurassic World Dominion<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>He had more than 150 credits over his five decade career, including <em>Dead Calm, The Jungle Book, In the Mouth of Madness, Event Horizon, Bicentennial Man, The Dish <\/em>and <em>Peter Rabbi<\/em>t. He was one of the leading candidates to succeed Roger Moore as James Bond and did a screen-test for the hit spy franchise in 1986, but lost out to Timothy Dalton.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sam Neill (1947\u20132026) pic.twitter.com\/acWuPqGa2d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Letterboxd (@letterboxd) July 13, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Neill also worked in television, playing the corrupt Major Chester Campbell in <em>Peaky Blinders<\/em>, as well as appearing in <em>The Twelve, The Tudors<\/em>, and episodes of <em>The Simpsons<\/em> and <em>Rick and Morty<\/em>. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his portrayal of spy Sidney Reilly in the 1983 mini-series <em>Reilly, Ace of Spies<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, Neill revealed that he had been undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, which e shared in his memoir, <em>Did I Ever Tell You About This?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>By the time his book was published, his cancer was in remission, but he underwent monthly chemotherapy for the rest of his life.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking about his struggle with cancer previously, the actor said that he was\u00a0coming to terms with the diagnosis\u00a0but determined to spend more time with his family. \u201cI\u2019m not afraid to die, but it would annoy me,\u201d he told\u00a0<em>The Guardian\u00a0<\/em>in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d really like another decade or two. We\u2019ve built all these lovely terraces, we\u2019ve got these olive trees and cypresses. I want to be around to see it all mature,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big. But as for the dying? I couldn\u2019t care less.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Neill was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British empire in 1991 for his services to acting and a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007.<\/p>\n<p>Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese is among those paying tribute to the actor, writing on X: \u201cSam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/film\/sam-neill-jurassic-park-and-peaky-blinders-actor-dies-aged-78-3956597&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/live-sam-neill.jpg&#8221;] NewsFilm News Sam Neill, \u2018Jurassic Park\u2019 and \u2018Peaky Blinders\u2019 actor, dies aged 78 The celebrated New Zealand actor\u2019s decades-spanning work saw him play romantic leads and charismatic villains By Poppy Burton 13th July 2026 Sam Neill, 2025. CREDIT: Chris Hyde\/Getty Images for AFI Sam Neill, the versatile actor whose career spanned Oscar [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2041089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2041089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041089\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2041089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2041089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2041089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}