Child star who appeared with Sam Neill in Jurassic Park breaks down in tears and reveals their last message following actor’s death

A former child star who appeared alongside Sam Neill in the 1993 movie Jurassic Park has paid tribute to the late actor, following his shock death on Monday aged 78.

Joseph Mazzello, 43, who played Richard Attenborough’s grandson Tim Murphy in the blockbuster film and shared many scenes with Neill, posted a heartbreaking clip on social media.

‘Obviously not what I wanted to be doing today. I woke up today to the news about Sam,’ the New York-born actor began.

‘I had been following his cancer diagnosis and recovery, and was so happy and thankful when I found out he was cancer-free. So this just comes as an extra gut punch.’

Mazzello added that he and Neill had kept in touch over the years after appearing together in the iconic Steven Spielberg movie.

‘I thought we were through the worst of it. A few months ago I put up a post about selling a boat and he commented, “All the best, Joey.” I didn’t even know he was following me… I didn’t know he even thought about me anymore,’ he said.

‘But he was still rooting for me 33 years later… That was so special to me, to know that. This was a defining moment in my life, a defining collaboration and partnership.’

Mazzello finished by saying that although it can be difficult to work alongside child actors, Neill was the consummate professional.

‘It’s not easy working with kids, but Sam only pretended to hate us! He was an amazing scene partner, it doesn’t feel that long ago that we were adlibbing and climbing down trees together. I’m so thankful to him,’ a teary-eyed Mazzello said.

Mazzello was just nine-years-old when he starred alongside Neill, then 45, in Jurassic Park, with the two sharing significant screen time.

His heartfelt words come after iconic Jurassic Park star Laura Dern and director Steven Spielberg also paid tribute to Neill following his shock death.

Neill, who is best known for his role as Dr Alan Grant in the dinosaur franchise, passed just months after he revealed he was ‘cancer-free’ following a long battle with the disease. 

The celebrated actor died in hospital in Sydney on Monday. 

Family described his death as ‘sudden and unexpected’ in a statement published on his Instagram page. The actor was previously diagnosed with a type of blood cancer.

Dern, who played Neill’s onscreen love interest Dr Ellie Sattler, said in a statement, ‘Sam was my beloved lifetime friend… He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit. 

‘He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant.’

Spielberg said he was ‘saddened’ by the news of Neill’s death, telling Daily Mail in a statement, ‘I owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Donaldson, Gillian Armstrong and Phillip Noyce for casting Sam Neill in the roles in which he was so brilliant that brought him to my attention and led to his playing Dr. Grant in Jurassic Park.

‘Sam was exceptionally collaborative. It was a stretch for him to play a character who acted as though children were messy and smelly because this was the opposite of the loving father he was to his children.

‘I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him. Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our Jurassic family. Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world.’

Neill’s family said in a tribute: ‘It is with immense sadness that the whānau (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life,’ they said.

‘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.’

In April, Neill announced tests had found he was cancer free.

Neill first went public with his cancer diagnosis in 2023 after being diagnosed with cancer the previous year, after initially experiencing swollen glands.

He found out about  his stage-three blood cancer while he promoted Jurassic World Dominion in 2022.