Sam Neill, star of Jurassic Park films, Peaky Blinders and The Piano, dies aged 78

[GReedDiamond]

Source: The Guardian - https://profiles.yahoo.com/brands/the-guardian/

Sam Neill, the versatile New Zealand actor whose career spanned Oscar winners and blockbusters such as The Piano and Jurassic Park, has died aged 78.

The actor's death was announced on Monday in a statement shared on his Instagram account. No cause of death was given, but Neill had only recently revealed he was cancer-free after being diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in 2022.

"It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.

"The 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's Private Hospital for their incredible care.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/sam-neill-star-jurassic-park-055916624.html

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RIP Sam.

[nuxvomica]

1. A wonderful actor

His greatest performannce, I think, was in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016).

[AZJonnie]

3. That was an excellent movie and he was indeed great in it

But by the time that came out he'd been freaking great in so many things, it didn't strike me as like a "career performance" type of thing (more like "Sam Neill being great like always" ), but next time I can't find anything interesting to watch, I'll fire it up a second time. It's been awhile. I'll watch this time with your thought in mind that it's his single greatest performance

Anyways, pass gently, and thanks for all the wonderful roles you brought to life, Sam Neill

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Saw a billion alerts on this

Didn't realize he was from New Zealand (born in Ireland). He did reprise his Jurassic Park character in the 2022 "World Dominion" release (a 7th film came out last year without him).

R.I.P.

[underpants]

6. RIP. Whanau - I'd never heard that.

Whānau is a Māori word that primarily means "family" or "extended family". Pronounced as FAH-no, its concept goes far beyond the traditional Western nuclear family, encompassing immediate relatives, multi-generational households, close friends without kinship ties, and collaborative community support networks.

[yardwork]

10. Thanks for this.

I just assumed the word was a typo and didn't look at it closely. I would have missed this.

[Tetrachloride]

4. Rest in peace.

recommended fun film

The Dish

[The Grand Illuminist]

5. He was great in The Final Conflict

And he was close to playing James Bond in The Living Daylights. Even had screen tested for that.

[Hugin]

7. I always wanted to see him in the role...

Of a Bond villain back in the day. I think he would have provided a striking contrast.

[Bengus81]

8. Great actor in everything he did.

Dead Calm
Hunt for Red October
Jurassic Park

[yardwork]

9. Oh no.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

11. Loved Sam Neill

In all of his roles. Especially in Peaky Blinders.

R.I.P.

[slightlv]

12. I really liked him in the Merlin miniseries.

Caught so many of his movies... found him always an engrossing actor. Will miss his talent, skills and good looks. RIP Sam Neill.. you will be remembered fondly.

[Torchlight]

13. Cold-war era thriller, Enigma was my introduction to him

Which introduced me to the concept of the morally compromised protagonist as the villain.

[tymfinity46]

14. Reilly, Ace of Spies

A great series he starred in from late 70's or early 80's I think

[chouchou]

15. Another wonderful person gone.

[Firestorm49]

16. He was superb in the series, Sidney Reilly, Ace of Spies.

[Collimator]

17. Neill had a certain intensity to him.

It was probably the eyebrows.

I first noted him/them in the mini-series, Ivanhoe, which also starred Anthony Andrews* and Olivia Hussey. Neill played a not so noble knight, the first of many roles where he embodied the spirit of I-belong-to-the-truth-faith-therefore-I-will-do-despicable-things-in-support-of-it.

He did this in the movie, Molokai, and The Tudors mini-series.

I was saddened and a little shocked by this news because I liked him and his work, and because his death was not the one that I was expecting to round out this particular Rule-of-Threes set.




* Not to be confused with the American actor, Anthony Anderson.

[milestogo]

18. ...

[Bayard]

19. He was wonderful in many roles....

Also in, "The Horse Whisperer." He will be sadly missed.

[FakeNoose]

20. The first movie I ever saw Sam Neill in was The Omen III: The Final Conflict

It was far from his best movie, for sure, but it was so terrifying that it's hard to forget. Sam must have been in his early 30s when he played the final "Damien" as an adult.

Rest in Peace, Sam Neill ... and thanks for all the great movies!