Washington: A post shared by Neill’s family on social media said the actor’s death was “sudden and unexpected,” but added that he had remained cancer free. Neill had publicly revealed in April that he was cancer free following his battle with blood cancer.

Widely praised by critics as a versatile and consistently powerful performer, Neill built a career that stretched across more than five decades and included major roles in film and television. He became a global name as paleontologist Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, while also appearing in acclaimed films such as The Hunt for Red October, The Piano, Evil Angels, also known as A Cry in the Dark, and Omen III.

Born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Omagh, Northern Ireland, he moved to New Zealand with his family at the age of seven. At 11, he changed his name to Sam, later writing in his 2023 memoir Did I Ever Tell You This? that the name sounded friendlier and easier to carry.

Neill’s breakthrough came with the 1977 New Zealand film Sleeping Dogs, which opened the door to bigger roles in Australia and later international cinema. Despite his global success, he remained closely connected to New Zealand, where he was much loved for his role as Hector in Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

Over his career, Neill earned three Golden Globe nominations and two Primetime Emmy nominations. He also won three Australian television awards, including one in 2025 for The Twelve. In 2022, he accepted a knighthood for his outstanding contribution to film, saying it was important for the arts to be recognised.

Away from cinema, Neill was known for his vineyard in New Zealand’s Central Otago, where he launched the Two Paddocks wine label in 1997. He also became popular on social media for sharing pictures of animals on his farm, many of them humorously named after celebrity friends.