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.
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Spielberg credited several directors for casting Neill in roles that caught his attention, leading to the iconic part in the 1993 blockbuster.
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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.
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Spielberg said he "adored" working with Neill on the "Jurassic" franchise and declared that the actor will never be forgotten.
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Neill died on Monday at age 78, months after announcing his recovery from a rare and aggressive blood cancer.
