Inspiring kids to become paleontologists for the last three decades,Jurassic Parkoriginally premiered in 1993. A mix of action, adventure, and sci-fi, this film presents a very entertaining combination. The premise, now familiar to all, is that dinosaurs have been re-created from DNA found in a fossilized mosquito that sucked blood from a dinosaur. Scientists used this DNA mixed with frog DNA to create dinosaurs including “veggisauruses” and “meatasauruses”. Problems first arise when a velociraptor kills someone in the opening scene. And right from this establishing scene, audiences knew they were in for a wild ride.
Jurassic Parkis directed by one of the most famous directors of all time,Steven Spielberg, with a larger-than-life score by one of the most famous composers,John Williams. When it was released, it was the biggest moneymaker Hollywood had ever seen. It’s no wonderthere have been five sequels (and counting) to the filmincludingThe Lost World: Jurassic Park,Jurassic Park III,Jurassic World,Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, andJurassic World Dominion. With an almost five-hundred-day run in theaters and a total profit of $912 million worldwide,Jurassic Parkis one of the most successful and popular movies ever made. It kicked off the careers of most of the actors on this list, some going on to become huge names in the business and others choosing to focus on other endeavors. After careful consideration, we’ve decided to endorseJurassic Parkas the best dinosaur movie ever. So let’s take a look at the actors who made this story the ginormous success it was and where they are today.
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Sam Neill as Dr. Alan Grant
Starring as the lead of Jurassic Park isSam Neill,who plays the character of Dr. Alan Grant. Grant is a paleontologist who is recruited by the creator ofJurassic Parkto give his approval of the park. This part launched Neill’s career as a major player in Hollywood. He reprised his role as Dr. Grant inJurassic Park IIIandJurassic World: Dominion, two sequels to the film.
After the originalJurassic Park, Neill went on to act in extremely popular movies and TV shows throughout the past thirty years. Some of these include the showsPeaky BlindersandThe Tudorsand the moviesThor: RagnarokandThor: Love and Thunder. TheThorfilms were directed by popular directorTaika Waititi, with whom Neill also worked on the filmHunt for Wilderpeople. Neill is next set to appear in the filmsScarygirlandBring Him to Meand theLiane Moriartyseries adaptation,Apples Never Fall.
Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler
Laura Dernappears as Dr. Ellie Sattler, a paleobotanist, which is a scientist who studies fossilized plants. Along with Dr. Grant, Dr. Sattler is promised funding for her archeological dig if she will visitJurassic Park. Although the pair are resistant at first, once they arrive, they are in awe of the dinosaurs and ancient plants coming to life before their eyes. Dern returned as Dr. Sattler in the sequelsJurassic Park IIIandJurassic World: Dominion. It was a special moment when after over a 20-year hiatus Dr. Grant and Dr. Sattler reappeared on screen, adding a nice dose of nostalgia.
AfterJurassic Park, Dern went on to create a wonderful career for herself. She was even nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the filmRambling Roseas the title character. Some of her more popular films includeThe Fault in Our Stars,Little Women, andStar Wars: Episode VIII- The Last Jedi. She also appeared on television in series such asBig Little Lies,Twin Peaks, andEnlightened. Dern’s most recent film credit was in the2022 filmThe Son, and she is set to appear next in the upcoming miniseriesPalm Royale.
Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm
Dr. Ian Malcolm is a mathematician specializing in chaos theory inJurassic Park. He is played byJeff Goldblum, who brings some much-needed comedy to the film. Dr. Ian Malcolm has appeared in all of theJurassic Parksequels except forJurassic Park III. Goldblum was already known for his role inThe Fly, but playing Dr. Ian Malcolm skyrocketed his career.
AfterJurassic Park, he worked on films such asIndependence Day,The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, andThe Grand Budapest Hotel. He is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well, having played the character of Grandmaster inThor: Ragnarok. His popularity even scored him his own show on Disney+ titledThe World According to Jeff Goldblum. We are looking forward to Goldblum’s multiple upcoming projects, including his portrayal of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in theWickedmusical films and his role in theWes AndersonmovieAsteroid City.
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Richard Attenborough as John Hammond
The man who started the whole adventure is John Hammond. He is played byRichard Attenboroughwho manages to make the character likable, despite the fact that his crazy idea led to all the chaos. Attenborough was born in England but went on to wear many hats in Hollywood including actor, producer, and director. He returned as Hammond inThe Lost World: Jurassic Park.
Attenborough took part in notable films before and afterJurassic Park,including acting inThe Great Escape,Doctor Doolittle, andMiracle on 34th Street. The filmsA Chorus Line,Cry Freedom, andGandhiwere directed by Attenborough. He also produced the latter two films and won two Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture forGandhi. Attenborough was honored with multiple Golden Globe and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominations and wins. Impressively, he also served as the president of the BAFTA and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Unfortunately, Attenborough passed away in 2014 at 90 years old, leaving a lasting mark on cinema history.
Samuel L. Jackson as Ray Arnold
Ray Arnold is the chief engineer ofJurassic Park, played by superstarSamuel L. Jackson. Arnold was sadly killed (offscreen) by a pack of velociraptors. At the time of this portrayal, Jackson had not yet risen to the level of fame he enjoys today. What helped him get to the top was his role inQuentin Tarantino’sPulp Fictionas Jules Winnfield, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Throughout the years he has had continued success and is an A-list Hollywood actor. He continued to work with Tarantino on some of his biggest films includingDjango Unchained,The Hateful Eight, andKill Bill: Vol 2. He is part of some of the most popular franchises of all time, playing Nick Fury in multiple Marvel TV series and films and playing Mace Windu in theStar Warsprequel trilogy. Jackson received an Academy Honorary Award in 2022 for being “A cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide.” He has also received nominations and won multiple awards such as Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and NAACP Image Awards. In June 2023, Jackson will be returning to his role as Nick Fury in theMarvel Disney+ seriesSecret Invasion. His other upcoming projects include a live-action adaptation ofAfro Samurai, the MCU filmThe Marvels, a voice role in the animated filmGarfield, and appearances in the moviesThe Kill Room,Argylle,Damaged, andThe Piano Lesson.
Joseph Mazzello as Tim Murphy
Playing the dinosaur-obsessed grandkid of John Hammond isJoseph Mazzello. WhenJurassic Parkpremiered, Mazello was only nine years old. Imagine getting your big break as an actor before your tenth birthday! Working with the directorial giant Steven Spielberg has been great for Murphy’s career. Mazzello reappeared as Tim inThe Lost World: Jurassic Park.
He has gone on to continue acting throughout the past thirty years, appearing in a number of notable projects including the filmsBohemian RhapsodyandThe Social Networkand the TV showsJustified,American Crime Story, andThe Pacific, which is produced by Spielberg himself.
Ariana Richards as Alexis “Lex” Murphy
Tim’s older sister Lex Murphy was portrayed byAriana Richards. Richards was thirteen when the film premiered. Lex is a “computer nerd” whose skills end up coming in handy once things begin to go haywire. Returning to her role as Lex inThe Lost World: Jurassic Parkwas one of Richards’s last projects. The few other films she did after that wereAngus,Tremors 3: Back to Perfection, andBattledogs.After that, she decided to move to Oregon and is focusing on life as a painter and artist. Richards toldPeoplethat she was inspired to paint her first watercolor from her work on the film, stating, “I wanted to boil down the whole experience ofJurassicinto my art. I painted an image of me from the Jell-O scene." Clearly despite her distance from Hollywood, she still holds her experience and her cast mates close to her heart. She was in attendance at the premieres ofJurassic World: Fallen KingdomandJurassic World: Dominion.
Apart from these actors,Jurassic Parkalso starredBob Peckas Robert Muldoon,Martin Ferreroas Donald Gennaro,B.D. Wongas Dr. Henry Wu(a character who gets a much bigger role in theJurassic Worldmovies),Wayne Knightas Dennis Nedry,Jerry Molenas Dr. Harding,Miguel Sandovalas Juanito Rostagno,Cameron Thoras Dr. Lewis Dodgson, and many more.
