Departures of note

Sam Neill, born Nigel John Dermot Neill on 14 September 1947 in Omagh, Northern Ireland, was a distinguished New Zealand actor whose career spanned over five decades. He gained early recognition in his native country through films such as Sleeping Dogs (1977) and later achieved international fame with roles in My Brilliant Career (1979) and Jurassic Park (1993), where he played Dr. Alan Grant. His filmography includes a wide range of genres, from horror in Possession (1981) to drama in The Hunt for Red October (1990) and comedy in The Dish (2000). Neill also made significant contributions to television, starring in series like Merlin, Peaky Blinders, and The Twelve. Beyond acting, he directed documentaries and authored a memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, published in 2023. A vocal advocate for environmental and social causes, Neill also ran a vineyard in New Zealand. He passed away on 13 July 2026 in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by family, after battling cancer.