Alan Grant (Jurassic Park character)

Alan Grant is a fictional character from the "Jurassic Park franchise". In the film trilogy he is portrayed by Sam Neill.

Plot

In the "Jurassic Park" novel, Grant is described as a barrel-chested, forty-year old chief paleontologist. At the time of the InGen incident, and the time of the publication of the book, it can be assumed that Grant was born in either the year 1950 or 1949. In the novel, Grant tells Tim Murphy that he is a widower. In the book, it says he helped describe the "Maiasaura" with Jack Horner. Actually, Grant is based on Horner himself - one of the scientific advisers for "Jurassic Park" - than on "Bob" Makela (1940-1987), Horner's co-author for "Maiasaura".

Grant had uncovered a "Velociraptor" skeleton in Montana, when he was invited to Jurassic Park, a jungle island where genetically engineered dinosaurs were being created. It was there that he met Tim Murphy, and supposedly becomes good friends with him. He was the one who confirmed the breeding problem in among the Jurassic Park "Othnielia", "Velociraptor", "Maiasaura", "Procompsognathus", "Tyrannosaurus" and "Hypsilophodon".

Later, he was witness to the Tyrannosaurus escaping its paddock, and subsequently attacking the remainder of the tour group. In the ensuing carnage, Ian Malcolm was severely wounded when the Tyrannosaurus threw him in the air. Shortly following the attack, he managed to locate Hammond's grandchildren, and upon witnessing the death of Ed Regis they attempted to make their way to the hotel. Grant and the children successfully crossed the Tyrannosaurus paddock and spend the night in a remote maintenance building. While searching for something to speed their return to the visitor center, Grant discovered a small inflatable raft, in which to travel down the jungle river. After an initial close call with the Tyrannosaurus in the lagoon, they managed to reach the safety of the densely forested jungle river, a trip that eventually culminated in the small group being swept over a waterfall and Tim escaping from the jaws of the Tyrannosaurus mere seconds after Muldoon's heavy tranquilizer took effect. Finding a service door behind the waterfall that led to the East Garage, Grant found a small electric car which they used to return to the Visitor Center.

On returning to the Visitor Center, Grant realizes the "Velociraptors" had escaped, and managed to return full electrical power to the park, as well as poison several adult "Velociraptor"s. He then went into the waterworks plant to count the dinosaur eggs starting with the "Velociraptors", but was later rescued by the Costa Rican forces.

Film version

In the film, Grant initially dislikes children, contrary to the father-like figure in the novel. Major difference between the film and novel is that Grant is involved romantically with Dr. Ellie Sattler. As in the book, he survives the attack by the T-Rex on the tour vehicles and becomes lost in the park with Hammond's grandchildren. He later discovers dinosaur eggs on the journey back to the Visitor Center.

"Jurassic Park III"

Grant later gave lectures on the intelligence of raptors, and dismissed the Dinosaurs that InGen created as nothing more than "theme park monsters". He also added that nothing could get him to go to Isla Sorna or any of The Five Deaths. The third film shows that although Ellie Sattler and he are still close friends, they are no longer involved. He was later tricked into going there by "wealthy" parents who were supposedly taking an aerial tour of Isla Sorna, when they were actually searching for their son Eric. He encounters a "Spinosaurus", and found out just how intelligent raptors really were after his partner Billy stole their eggs. He was rescued when his old friend and former colleague Ellie Sattler alerted the Navy and the Marines and Grant is reunited with Billy by the Marines who had found him injured but alive.

Jurassic Park IV

As of 2008, there is no word if Sam Neill will reprise his role as Alan Grant for Jurassic Park IV even though Neill stated that he was not asked to reprise his character.