Posted on 07/13/2026 4:58:35 AM PDT by Rummyfan
New Zealand actor built career as dashing romantic leads and charismatic villains across film and television
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
When Sean Connery left the part I always felt that he would have been a good fit for Bond
Riley, Ace of spies
Don’t foget “The Dish”. Sam Neill playing the grownup in the room to nerdy techs in Australia back during the USA moon walk days.
Yes, Neill was a true star.
I loved that movie! The quirky,dry Australian humor was a hit. And the way the Australian dish operators corrected the south latitude adjustment from north latitude coordinates without intricate programming protocol, was great. (Maybe it was longitude corrections, can’t remember). Great nerd and US Apollo era movie.
Greatly.
Rest In Peace, Dr. Alan Grant.
Ditto. Always enjoyed his work. RIP
I first saw him in “Kane and Abel” the mini series. They don’t make those types of mini series much any more.
One of his underrated, obscure roles was in Dead Calm with Nicole Kidman. He played a resourceful skipper of a private yacht who is marooned on the sinking boat of a psycho-killer.
I first saw him in The Omen 3,The Final Conflict from 1981 as Satan’s son.
So, he would have found out that you can fail in capitalism.
My wife and I have enjoyed him in all his roles.
with a "round American woman," of course!
“I wonder if he ever got to see Montana?
RIP”
“Don’t foget “The Dish”. Sam Neill playing the grownup in the room to nerdy techs in Australia back during the USA moon walk days.
Yes, Neill was a true star.”
Watched The Dish on Saturday. GREAT movie.
I believe his most challenging roll was in Dean Spanley where he would get a bit drunk from ‘royal toikaji’ and become a dog.
He pulled it off!
RIP from Bozeman, MT
He wanted to raise rabbits and have a pickup truck...Great actor.
And be a Dental Floss Tycoon.
I loved that movie! The quirky,dry Australian humor was a hit. And the way the Australian dish operators corrected the south latitude adjustment from north latitude coordinates without intricate programming protocol, was great. (Maybe it was longitude corrections, can’t remember). Great nerd and US Apollo era movie.
He did a great job in everything I have seen him do. Never knew him to do anything but his job, he didn’t try to tell the rest of us how to live that I knew of. He seemed likable.
RIP
Another of the good ones passes away. I always liked him and he was a great actor. RIP Sam, you will be missed.
Great actor.
Has anyone else seen the British comedy “My talks with Dean Spanley” British humor, and a great book
Did not know he was from New Zealand. Very talented actor. Rest in peace Dr. Alan Grant and Cardinal Wolsey.
I loved, “Reilly, Ace of Spies”
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