Sam Neill, one of the most versatile, charismatic, and recognizable actors in the world, passed away Monday morning at the age of 78. “It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia,” a post on Neill’s official Instagram read. “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life. The loss was sudden and unexpected, but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care. More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.” Born in 1947, Neill began acting in the mid-1970s, with one of his most notable early roles being the devilish Damien on Omen III: The Final Conflict. From there, he crafted a vast and varied career with roles in the George Miller-produced Dead Calm, alongside Sean Connery in The Hunt for Red October, and in John Carpenter’s Memoirs of an Invisible Man, to name a few. By the early 1990s, Neill had become famous and recognizable enough to be cast in the role that would define his entire career, Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. Neill gave Grant an incredible blend of aw-shucks enthusiasm, infinite curiosity, and relatable bravery, instantly creating a truly timeless character. Who can forget the way he took off those sunglasses or described velociraptor dinner? The character returned in Jurassic Park III and, most recently, in Jurassic World Dominion, when io9 got a chance to speak with him.