Jurassic Park” star, Sam Neill, died in Australia on Monday aged 78, his family said in a statement that described the beloved actor’s death as “sudden and unexpected”.
The New Zealander had in recent years undergone treatment for lymphoma but declared this year that he was cancer-free.
“It is with immense sadness that the whanau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13 July, in Sydney, Australia,” the statement read, using the New Zealand Maori word for family.
“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free.”
The statement did not elaborate on the cause of Neill’s death, but said he had been undergoing treatment at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney.
“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life,” the statement said.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Neill was “one of the greats”.
