parks
Sam Neill, New Zealand actor who starred in ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘The Piano,’ dies at 78
By ABC at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC)
· July 13, 2026
· 5 min read
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Sam Neill, a smoothly elegant and versatile actor whose career moved from art film to blockbuster as he dodged velociraptors in “Jurassic Park” and played Holly Hunter’s husband in “The Piano,” has died. He was 78.
In 2023, Neill disclosed he had been diagnosed with...
Key takeaway In 2023, Neill disclosed he had been diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Why this matters in The Minneapolis
Minneapolis residents who frequent the city's parks and green spaces may not immediately connect the passing of Sam Neill to their local community, but his iconic role in "Jurassic Park" has a tangential link to the city's own natural history attractions. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board oversees several parks with educational programs and exhibits focused on paleontology and natural sciences, which may have inspired some local youngsters to pursue careers in these fields, just like Neill's character Alan Grant. Furthermore, the University of Minnesota's paleontology department has conducted research on dinosaur fossils, highlighting the local connection to the field that Neill's character represented in the film. As the city continues to develop its parks and educational programs, the legacy of actors like Sam Neill can serve as a reminder of the importance of making science and natural history accessible to the general public.
About this story
Original reporting by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . The Minneapolis surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: parks ·
Published: July 13, 2026 ·
Source: KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Sam Neill, a smoothly elegant and versatile actor whose career moved from art film to blockbuster as he dodged velociraptors in “Jurassic Park” and played Holly Hunter’s husband in “The Piano,” has died. He was 78.
In 2023, Neill disclosed he had been diagnosed with...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 13, 2026 by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) and curated for The Minneapolis readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by ABC at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC). To learn more about how The Minneapolis selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The Minneapolis, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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