Just a few months after he declared to the world that he was now cancer-free, Sam Neill passed away at the age of 78. The news hit the world quite hard, and Hollywood was left mourning the loss of beloved acting legend, celebrated for his iconic role in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park as Dr Alan Grant. The Kiwi actor died in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by his family. As much as the shock it was for fans, his family was also stunned by his sudden passing, especially after his cancer-free status.

Now, apart from his world-famous roles in classics that serve as a reminder of his on-screen persona, only his family remains to carry forward his personal memories and stories.

At the time of his death, Sam Neill was not married, but he had been married twice in his lifetime. Neill’s first wife was New Zealand actress Lisa Harrow, whom he met on the sets of 1981’s Omen III: The Final Conflict. Despite a long relationship and sharing a son named Tim together, the couple quietly separated in 1989.    

Later in the same year, he met Japanese make-up artist Noriko Watanabe while filming Dead Calm, and immediately tied the knot. In 1991, the couple was blessed with a daughter, Elena, and Sam also adopted Maiko, Noriko's daughter from a previous relationship. When they separated in 2017, no one had any idea of the reason behind the decision, as the couple largely kept their relationship and children away from the public eye.

Apart from Tim, Elena, and Maiko, the late actor also has a son named Andrew, whom he had not met for almost 25 years. He had him in his early twenties and had to give him up for adoption. The father and son were reunited in 1994 when they both started looking for each other. 

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Ironically, the actor lived a life with his family away from the public while he had a whole other life, or rather lives, that were for the world to see.

Obviously, he will always be the gruff paleontologist, Dr Alan Grant, from 1993’s Jurassic Park for fans. However, he has several other credits to his name that earned him a cult following. Major Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders is one such role. A ruthless, corrupt Royal Irish Constabulary Major who serves as the primary antagonist to the Shelby family in the early seasons.

Several others, like Alisdair Stewart in The Piano (1993), John McCabe in Dead Calm (1989), and Vasily Brodin in The Hunt for Red October (1990), will forever be etched in the memories of his avid fans. Anyhow, the news of his death after being cancer-free was still shocking, and all the world is left to remember him by are these on-screen appearances.

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