Let’s be honest—Jurassic Park is not only about dinosaurs running amok or theme park catastrophes (okay, we love those too). It’s also about the incredible characters and the actors who inhabited them, with as little as a couple of minutes of screen time. With the passing of years, several of these brilliant performers are gone now—some much too early. Although the franchise continues, the efforts of these actors are long overdue for their time in the spotlight. So put on your proverbial safari hat and follow us as we pay our respects to 10 deceased Jurassic Park cast members you may not know passed away.
10. Julio Oscar Mechoso (Enrique Cardoso – Jurassic Park III)
You may recall Enrique Cardoso as the gentleman responsible for the ill-fated parasailing excursion off the coast of Isla Sorna. Julio Oscar Mechoso added a sly touch to the character, suggesting a history even though he only had a few minutes of screen time. A diverse actor with a career in thrillers, dramas, and cult fare like Planet Terror, Mechoso was broadly admired by colleagues like Andy Garcia, who commended his emotional depth. He died of a heart attack in 2017.
9. Sarah Danielle Madison(Cheryl – Jurassic Park III)
Sarah Danielle Madison’s brief but noticeable cameo as a flirtatious dig site assistant in Jurassic Park III was memorable, even if only for a moment. Her charm was undeniable, even in the briefest of roles. A favorite from her work on 7th Heaven and Judging Amy, Madison’s life and career were short-lived and shockingly ended when she passed away in 2014 at the age of 40, reportedly from a heart condition.
8. Michael Jeter (Udesky – Jurassic Park III)
As Udesky, the nervous mercenary with great comic timing, Michael Jeter added much-needed humor to the dinosaur mayhem. In real life, he was an Emmy- and Tony-winning performer best known for appearances in The Green Mile, Evening Shade, and The Fisher King. Jeter, who had HIV but was otherwise healthy, died unexpectedly of natural causes in 2003 at age 50.
7. Geno Silva (Barge Captain – The Lost World: Jurassic Park)
Though his stint within the Jurassic world was short-lived, Geno Silva had a huge impact elsewhere, including as the deadly, silent assassin in Scarface, just to name one. He also turned up in Mulholland Drive, Amistad, and so on. Silva died in 2020 from complications involving dementia, being recalled by friends and peers alike for his intensity and imposing presence.
6. Ian Abercrombie (Butler – The Lost World: Jurassic Park)
You may have overlooked him on your initial viewing, but Abercrombie’s cameo as Hammond’s butler brought some elegance. Seen most often in character roles such as Elaine’s boss, Mr. Pit, on Seinfeld and Alfred on Birds of Prey, Abercrombie also had a successful career as a voice actor, including playing Emperor Palpatine on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Abercrombie died in 2012 at the age of 77.
5. Robin Sachs (Paul Bowman – The Lost World: Jurassic Park)
Robin Sachs begins The Lost World with a lesson in what not to do: picnicking on Isla Sorna. Aside from that, he was the darling of the sci-fi universe, playing villains in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Galaxy Quest, and voicing characters in Mass Effect. Robin Sachs passed away in 2013 from a heart attack, a day before his 62nd birthday.
4. Pete Postlethwaite (Roland Tembo – The Lost World: Jurassic Park)
As stoic big-game hunter Roland Tembo, Pete Postlethwaite lent gravity to the sequel’s mayhem. Familiar from films such as The Usual Suspects, The Town, and In the Name of the Father, his authoritative figure and rich performances made him internationally respected. Pancreatic cancer claimed him in 2011. Spielberg once referred to him as “the best actor in the world”—and few would disagree.
3. Richard Kiley (Tour Voice – Jurassic Park)
If “We spared no expense” still echoes in your mind, you’ve got Richard Kiley to thank. The veteran stage and screen actor lent his rich voice to the park’s iconic tour narration. A Broadway legend, Kiley originated the role of Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. He died in 1999, leaving behind a voice (and legacy) that helped define Jurassic Park’s immersive world.
2. Jophery Brown (Gatekeeper – Jurassic Park)
Although he had a minimal role—his the one who gets a gruesome death in the raptor enclosure—Jophery Brown’s off-camera work was gigantic. A veteran pro ballplayer turned busy stuntman, he did stunt work on action classics such as Die Hard and Speed. Brown died in 2014 and is a legend among stuntmen.
1. Richard Attenborough (John Hammond – Jurassic Park & The Lost World)
Of course, we have to leave with the man who “created” Jurassic Park. Richard Attenborough added warmth, ambition, and depth to John Hammond. Apart from dinosaurs, he was a filmmaking giant, directing his Oscar-winning Gandhi and starring in classics such as The Great Escape. He passed away in 2014, at age 90, leaving behind a towering filmmaking legacy.
Bob Peck (Robert Muldoon – Jurassic Park)
No homage would be complete without Bob Peck, whose performance as game warden Robert Muldoon provided us with the iconic “Clever girl” moment. A talented British stage and screen actor, Peck died in 1999 of cancer at only 53. His intensity and dignity earned him a spot among giants in a movie full of literal and metaphorical ones.