New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known for his roles in Jurassic Park and The Piano, has died at age 78, his family said Monday.
According to a statement posted to the actor's social media page, Neill died in Sydney and his passing was described as sudden and unexpected.
The family said he was surrounded by relatives and died with the dignity that defined his life. They did not give a specific cause of death.
Neill disclosed in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. His family said he remained cancer free when he died.
Neill built a long career that ranged from art films to major blockbusters, becoming one of the internationally recognized actors to emerge from the wave of Australian films that gained attention in the late 1970s, according to CBS News.
