Sam Neill, the 78-year-old actor best known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, has died of pneumonia.
His representatives confirmed the cause of death, stating he passed away unexpectedly but remained cancer-free following treatment for lymphoma.
Neill had undergone CAR-T therapy to address his cancer after a stage three diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma, four years ago.
The extensive chemotherapy and immunotherapy that cleared his blood cancer left his immune system significantly compromised, contributing to his vulnerability to infection.
A co-star from Hunt for the Wilderpeople first disclosed his pneumonia illness, noting the actor would likely have been annoyed rather than afraid of death.
Neill had publicly declared himself cancer-free in April and was preparing to return to work on upcoming film projects.
His family announced a private ceremony will be held at his New Zealand farm, honoring his wish to avoid a public fuss in life and death.
Those wishing to pay respects have been encouraged to support causes he valued, including hospital foundations and wildlife charities.
Tributes have poured in from across the industry, with collaborators praising his kindness, humor, and exceptional talent as both an actor and colleague.
Beyond Jurassic Park, Neill's decades-long career spanned acclaimed films including The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, and Dead Calm.
He is survived as a figure of immense cultural impact, remembered by millions of fans worldwide for his contributions to cinema.
