Prior to his death, 'Jurassic Park' star Sam Neill revealed how he wanted to be remembered

Actor Sam Neill expressed a elemental privation for his bequest astir a twelvemonth earlier helium died astatine property 78.

The New Zealand prima beloved for his starring relation successful the “Jurassic Park” films said successful an August 2025 interrogation with The Telegraph, published Wednesday, that helium wanted to beryllium remembered for his kindness. Neill, reminiscing connected mortality, said this privation was inspired by a coating helium owned by Helena Bonham Carter’s mother, Elena Propper de Callejón.

“It is simply a precise saccharine watercolor of a comic aged happening successful a flowery formal and bonnet,” Neill said of the artwork. “At the bottommost of the coating is an inscription: ‘But she was kind…’ When I americium nary longer about, I anticipation idiosyncratic volition beryllium capable to accidental that astir me.”

Neill died abruptly Monday successful Sydney, his household confirmed connected Instagram.

The histrion announced successful April that helium was successful remission aft 5 years of surviving with crab owed to a caller crab therapy. He battled Stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a uncommon and assertive benignant of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Neill was successful remission astatine the clip of his speech with The Telegraph.

After quality of Neill’s decease spread, his collaborators remembered him for his endowment and his kindness — conscionable arsenic helium had hoped. Laura Dern, who played Dr. Ellie Sattler other Neill’s Dr. Alan Grant successful Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park,” wrote, Neill “showed maine the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and emotion ever with the driest of wit.”

She continued: “He was a existent and noble gentleman, wrapped up successful my imagination starring man. I volition emotion you forever, Dr. Alan Grant.”

His “Peaky Blinders” co-star Cillian Murphy remembered Neill arsenic “one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and 1 of the finest actors,” portion Nicole Kidman celebrated Neill arsenic “one of the greats.”

Neill appeared successful astir 150 movie and TV productions passim his career. His notable credits see films “The Hunt for Red October,” “The Piano” and “Evil Angels” and shows “The Tudors” and “Apples Never Fall.”

For The Telegraph, Neill besides discussed his humble upbringing, however helium felt his acting vocation had been a “complete fluke” and his position connected beingness amid his crab battle.

“I person had the unusual brushwood with cancer, truthful each time is simply a bonus these days,” helium explained. “Life lesson: ne'er instrumentality a azygous time for granted.”