'Jurassic Park' actor Sam Neill dies at 78

Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor known for his roles in "Jurassic Park," "The Hunt for Red October" and the drama series "Peaky Blinders," died Monday local time. He was 78.

His family announced the news in a statement posted to his official SNS accounts, saying his death "was sudden and unexpected" but that they were grateful "he did not have cancer when he died."

Neill died at a hospital in Sydney, Australia, according to his family. He had been declared cancer-free in April after treatment for stage-3 blood cancer.

"Sam passed away with the dignity he showed throughout his life, surrounded by his family," the statement read. His family thanked the hospital staff and asked for privacy, saying further details would be shared in due course.

Neill was born in 1947 in Omagh, Northern Ireland, to a New Zealand father and a British mother, and moved to New Zealand in 1954.

He first gained recognition with the 1977 film "Sleeping Dogs" and went on to appear in numerous films, including "Jurassic Park," "The Piano," "The Dish" and "Possession."

He returned to Britain in 2013 to play a Belfast police chief inspector in the BBC drama series "Peaky Blinders."

Neill was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1991 and was knighted in 2022.

Tributes from the political world followed news of his death.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Neill "fought his illness with the same grace, humor and conviction he brought to every performance — cynical and gruff, yet thoughtful and understated," adding, "He will be mourned by many and remembered for a long time. May he rest in peace."