Sir Sam Neill, Jurassic Park star, dies at 78

Sir Sam Neill, the Northern Irish-born actor who became a global icon as the palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, has died at the age of 78. His family announced the news on Monday, describing his passing as 'sudden and unexpected'. He died in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by his loved ones.

Born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Omagh, County Tyrone, in 1947, he moved to New Zealand as a child. He adopted the name Sam at 12 because there were several Nigels at his school. His career, spanning more than five decades, included roles in The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, and the television series Peaky Blinders. He was appointed an OBE in 1991 and accepted a knighthood in 2022, a testament to his enduring contribution to