Sam Neill was born on 14 September 1947 in Omagh, Northern Ireland. He is a New Zealand film and television actor. His family moved to New Zealand when he was seven. He graduated from the University of Canterbury with a BA in English Literature.

Sam worked with the New Zealand Players and various other groups. He worked with the New Zealand National Film Unit as director, editor and scriptwriter.

His breakthrough role was as the well-mannered suitor, Harry Beecham, in "My Brilliant Career". He worked with Judy Davis in this film and their chemistry was enjoyed again in the mini-series "One Against the Wind" and also the 1996 film, "Children of the Revolution".

He playing paleontologist Doctor Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III. Most recently he is in a Showtime production of The Tudors as Cardinal Wolsey.

Personal - Neill is married to Noriko Watanabe and they have one daughter. He has a son and a step-daughter. He and his family have homes in Sydney, New Zealand, and Beverly Hills.

Filmography

• Telepathy (2008)
• How to Change in 9 Weeks (2008)
• Daybreakers (2008)
• "Iron Road" (2008)
• "The Tudors" (10 episodes, 2007)
• Angel (2007)
• "Two Twisted" (1 episode, 2006)
• Irresistible (2006)
• Merlin's Apprentice (2006)
• "The Triangle" (2005)
• "Mary Bryant" (2005)
• Little Fish (2005)
• "To the Ends of the Earth" (2005)
• Wimbledon (2004)
• Yes (2004)
• Jessica (2004) (TV)
• Stiff (2004)
• Perfect Strangers (2003)
• Doctor Zhivago (2002)
• Leunig Animated (2002)
• Leunig: How Democracy Actually Works (2002)
• Dirty Deeds (2002)
• Framed (2002)
• The Zookeeper (2001)
• Jurassic Park III (2001)
• Submerged (2001)
• The Magic Pudding (2000)
• The Dish (2000)
• My Mother Frank (2000)
• Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (2000)
• Bicentennial Man (1999)
• Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999)
• "The Games" (1 episode, 1998)
• The Revengers' Comedies (1998)
• The Horse Whisperer (1998)
• Merlin (1998) (TV)
• Event Horizon (1997)
• Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)
• In Cold Blood (1996)
• Children of the Revolution (1996)
• Restoration (1995)
• In the Mouth of Madness (1995)
• Victory (1995)
• The Jungle Book (1994)
• Sirens (1994)
• "The Simpsons" (1 episode, 1994)
• Country Life (1994)
• Jurassic Park (1993)
• Family Pictures (1993)
• Hostage (1993)
• The Piano (1993)
• Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)
• The Rainbow Warrior (1992)
• One Against the Wind (1991)
• Bis ans Ende der Welt (1991)
• Fever (1991)
• Death in Brunswick (1991)
• Shadow of China (1990)
• The Hunt for Red October (1990)
• Révolution française, La (1989)
• Dead Calm (1989)
• Evil Angels (1988)
• Leap of Faith (1988)
• The Good Wife (1987)
• "Amerika" (1987)
• For Love Alone (1986)
• Strong Medicine (1986)
• "Kane & Abel" (1985)
• Plenty (1985)
• Robbery Under Arms (1985)
• Sang des autres, Le (1984)
• The Country Girls (1984)
• "Reilly: The Ace of Spies" (1983)
• Enigma (1983)
• Ivanhoe (1982)
• Attack Force Z (1982)
• From a Far Country (1981)
• Possession (1981)
• The Final Conflict (1981)
• "The Sullivans" (1976)
• "Young Ramsay" (1 episode, 1980)
• Lucinda Brayford (1980)
• My Brilliant Career (1979)
• The Journalist (1979)
• Just Out of Reach (1979)
• Sleeping Dogs (1977)
• Ashes (1975)
• Landfall (1975)

Awards

• Australian Film Institute Award Best Actor "Evil Angels/A Cry in the Dark" 1988