New Zealand actor Sam Neill, star of the famous 'Jurassic Park' film series, died in Australia on Monday at the age of 78, according to a statement from his family. The New Zealand actor's family issued a press statement saying: "With great sadness, the family of Sam Neill announces his death on Monday, July 13 in Sydney, Australia, a sudden and unexpected loss." In recent years, the New Zealand actor had been undergoing treatment for lymphoma, but he announced his recovery from cancer this year. Neill was born in Northern Ireland as Nigel John Dermot in 1947, but moved to New Zealand while still a child. In the early 1970s, Sam began acting in New Zealand films, before moving on to larger roles in Australia. The global star's breakthrough came in 1993, when he played Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg's famous film 'Jurassic Park'. During a career spanning decades, Sam participated in dozens of television and film works, including 'Peaky Blinders' and 'The Hunt for Red October', and two additional parts of the 'Jurassic Park' series. Sam won the affection of New Zealanders for his continued involvement in local productions, and received widespread acclaim for his performance in Jane Campion's film 'The Piano', as well as in Taika Waititi's film 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople'.