Steven Spielberg is mourning the loss of Sam Neill, the actor who brought Dr. Alan Grant to life in "Jurassic Park."
The legendary director released a statement expressing his sadness over Neill's death.
Spielberg credited several directors for casting Neill in roles that caught his attention, leading to the iconic part in the 1993 blockbuster.
He praised Neill as "exceptionally collaborative" and noted that playing a character who disliked children was a stretch for the actor, who was a loving father in real life.
Spielberg said he "adored" working with Neill on the "Jurassic" franchise and declared that the actor will never be forgotten.
Neill died on Monday at age 78, months after announcing his recovery from a rare and aggressive blood cancer.
