Earlier this week it was confirmed Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor best known for starring in Jurassic Park, had passed away aged 78.
Since the news of his passing was announced, tributes have poured in for the actor who was on our screens from the mid 1970's, starring in everything from Peaky Blinders, multiple Jurassic Park movies, The Piano, The Jungle Book and many more.
One of his most recent roles that you may not have seen, but is well worth a watch is the Australian legal drama Cape Rock Killer and here's everything you need to know about it.
What is Cape Rock Killer about?
Cape Rock Killer, or The Twelve as it is known in Australia, is an Aussie courtroom drama that stars Sam Neill as defence barrister Brett Colby SC and began in 2022. The show has had three season and each season follows a different trial and Colby's defence of an individual accused of murder.
The first season focussed on the trial of Kate Lawson who was accused of killing her niece and the unravelling of the trial, including how the 12 jurors bring their own prejudices to the trial. The second season is about the death of a local woman, whose daughter and her boyfriend are on trial for her murder. And the third and final season is about Colby having to face a trial that includes the involvement of a long time friend.
Over the years the show has been heavily praised by viewers on IMDb, with one person describing the show as "raw and real", while another said: "fabulous story line and interesting to see how the jury interacts with each other."
Sam Neill is also highly commended for his performance as Colby, with one reviewer saying: "Sam Neil is excellent in this," and another said: "Sam Neill & Marta Düsseldorf deliver their roles to the highest calibre."
Who is in the cast of Cape Rock Killer?
Leading the cast of Cape Rock Killer is Sam Neill as defence barrister Brett Colby, and while most courtroom dramas focus on lead actors defending the good guy Sam explained why he enjoyed playing a defence lawyer, telling GQ Australia in 2024: "I believe that everyone is entitled to defence and I think that’s a hallmark of a good judicial system."
In the same interview he also revealed how he spoke with many friends of his who were barristers to get their take on the job, "the way I play and it’s very much based on them, they are clever, smart and amusing people who are amused by things."
Sam appears in every series of the show, however due to the nature of each season taking on a different trial and different jurors the other cast members change around.
Over the seasons actors such as Marta Dusseldorp, Kate Mulvany and Kaila Ferrelli have had significant appearances in the series.
Where can I watch Cape Rock Killer?
All eight episodes of the third season of Cape Rock Killer are available to watch on ITVX now. As the show focusses on a different trial each season, you don't have to have seen the previous two seasons to enjoy the third and understand what is going on.
Cape Rock Killer is available to stream on ITVX now
