'Jurassic Park' Star Leaves Role After Name Appears in the Epstein Files

A name from the Jurassic Park films appears in the Epstein files.

Renowned paleontologist Jack Horner is almost as much of a star of the Jurassic Park films as Sam Neill, who portrays dinosaur expert Dr. Alan Grant.

But while Horner was the partial inspiration for the character in the original 1990 novel by Michael Crichton, unlike Neill, he isn’t a household name. Although fans will be familiar, as he worked as a technical advisor on the set of Jurassic Park (1993), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Jurassic Park III (2001), Jurassic World (2015) — in which he had a small cameo — and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).

Now, it has been reported that Horner has appeared in the infamous Epstein files.

“A paleontologist who worked as an adviser on several Jurassic Park films has left his role at Chapman University, weeks after emails linking him to Jeffrey Epstein were released,” the BBC writes. “The 2012 emails show Jack Horner visited the convicted sex offender’s New Mexico ranch and sought research funding. Horner worked as a lecturer at Montana State University at the time.”

What Are the Epstein Files?

Earlier this year, the US Department of Justice released 3 million pages from the Epstein files, which contain images, videos, and emails detailing the activities of the now-deceased American financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including his social circle of public figures, politicians, and celebrities.

However, it should be noted that appearing in the files does not imply wrongdoing.

Related: ‘Jurassic World’ Animated Series Could Be Getting Live-Action Movie, Rumor Suggests

Why Does Jack Horner Appear?

The outlet continues: “In an email sent in August 2012 to a redacted recipient, Horner wrote: ‘I wanted to thank you for all your help in getting me to Jeffrey’s ranch, it was a lot of fun,'” adding, “‘Jeffrey and the girls were very gracious hosts… Please give my best to Jeffrey and the girls.'”

Another message shows Horner asking for funds for a research project, estimating the cost at $15,000, before revising it to $8,650. In response, Epstein wrote, “Great, check made to???”

Horner Has Commented

In a statement, Horner said he was referring to four women “who were introduced to me as college students” and regrets using the term “girls”.

He also said that he regrets not investigating Jeffrey Epstein‘s background, but that he did not see anything “weird or suspicious” during his visit to the sex offender’s ranch.

“In retrospect, I regret that I did not investigate Epstein’s background beyond what was commonly known at the time, something that I had never done with other potential donors,” Horner said. “That is a lesson learned!”

“When the full extent of Epstein’s crimes became public in 2019, I reflected back upon my limited interactions with him,” he continued. “Nothing I observed or experienced during my short stay at the ranch indicated or suggested the conduct that came to light.”