India, July 13 -- Sam Neill, the actor who won the hearts of audiences across the globe in the 1990s with his iconic role in Jurassic Park, died in Sydney on Monday. He was 78.

Neill had been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer but revealed in April that he was cancer-free.

"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," the statement added.

"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," the post read.

Reflecting on his career, the actor once told CNN: "I ne...