David Muir fans cry ‘this hurts so much’ over heartbreaking news
David Muir dedicated a segment on World News Tonight to remembering the beloved Hollywood star Sam Neill, who was announced as having died at age 78 on Monday
David Muir devoted a portion of the evening news Monday to legendary actor Sam Neill (Image: Heidi Gutman, ABC via Getty Images)
David Muir sparked an outpouring of emotion from viewers after he covered the death of Jurassic Park star Sam Neill on the Monday, July 13, episode of his program, World News Tonight.
The 51-year-old ABC anchor devoted a portion of the evening news broadcast to honoring the cherished Hollywood icon, whose passing at age 78 was confirmed on Monday. David noted during the program that a particular segment was dedicated to “remembering actor Sam Neill, famous for Jurassic Park,” before presenting a montage video showcasing his body of work.
The tribute to Sam on World News Tonight was posted to the program’s official Instagram account later that Monday evening. The actor’s death had been confirmed on Instagram earlier in the day. It comes after Sam admitted he wanted to return to his career after taking a step back due to his illness.
“Actor Sam Neill, best known for the ‘Jurassic Park’ franchise and over 150 film and TV roles, has died at age 78. @DavidMuirABC looks back on Neill’s more than five-decade career, including his memorable performance as Dr. Alan Grant in 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” the post’s caption elaborated.
Many paid tribute to Sam in the comments section, expressing their grief over his death through touching messages, reports the Mirror US.
David Muir looked back at Neill’s five decade long career (Image: ABC)
“This hurts so much, not only because he was a great actor but he loved Nature and animals, I used to watch his videos here in Instagram,” one commenter expressed. Another wrote, “Deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with the family of Jurassic Park star Sam Neill, who has passed away at age 78. As the legendary dr Allen Grant, this incredibly cinematic, charismatic, and talented actor awed audiences for decades…” A third noted, “This loss feels too great. We love you, Dr. Grant,” while another expressed, “True LEGEND!!! RIP!!”
Sam’s passing was confirmed in an official statement published on his Instagram page, which read: “It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia.”
Sam Neill passed away at the age of 78 (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
While his cause of death has not been disclosed, the statement confirmed that Sam had “remained cancer free.” The beloved actor had waged a five-year battle against stage-three blood cancer, before announcing in April that he had beaten the disease following a groundbreaking new treatment after chemotherapy proved unsuccessful.
The Instagram statement continued, “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.”
