Sam Neill, legendary actor, has died aged 78, with tributes pouring in online.
Born in Northern Ireland, raised in New Zealand, Neill’s illustrious film and TV career saw him garner generations of fans across five decades of performances including Jurassic Park, The Piano, Peaky Blinders, My Brilliant Career, Event Horizon, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Merlin, Thor: Ragnarok, Dead Calm, The Hunt for Red October, and more.
A statement posted on Neill’s Instagram page said the actor died in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, “surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”
In 2023, Neil underwent chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In April 2026, he revealed he was cancer free.
“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free,” the post on Neill’s Instagram reads. “The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care. More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”
Sir Neill accepted a knighthood from New Zealand in 2022, having rejected the title in 2009 as “just too grand at this time of my life” (he was made an Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 for services to acting, making him eligible). Aside from his screen career, Neill was also known for his environmental activism, working with Greenpeace against plastic pollution and recently making headlines for opposing an industrial goldmine in New Zealand’s Central Otago region.
Sam Neill in his iconic role as Dr. Alan Grant in “Jurassic Park.”
Credit: Universal / Getty Images
Tributes flow online to Sam Neill, from celebrities to fans
Tributes have begun appearing online from both Neill’s famous friends and his fans.
Richard E. Grant, who knew Neill for 30 years and worked with him on 2019’s Palm Beach, posted a collection of personal photos on Instagram, writing, “An officer and a Gentleman in the truest sense. Guided and helped me through a very difficult time in my Life…Sail on, kind Sir.”
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Toni Collette, who starred alongside Neill in 2005’s Dirty Deeds and 2014’s A Long Way Down, posted on Instagram with a candid photo, “I love you, dear Sam. You hero. You legend. You sweetheart. Our great friend. You are already missed so very much. Continue in peace wherever you are 🤍”
“It’s not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend.”
Colin Trevorrow, who directed Neill in Jurassic World Dominion, described the actor in a tribute post as “a deeply soulful and beautiful man…It’s not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend.”
Australian actor and comedian Magda Szubanski, after whom Neill named one of his famous pet ducks, posted a video on Instagram and described her friend as “An exceptional man- talented, kind, classy, wryly hilarious and loving. Proud cancer survivor. My heart goes out to all Sam’s family and friends. A great loss to the global acting community, Australia and New Zealand, and to ornery ducks.”
Another of Neill’s friends, who also became one of his duck’s namesakes, was pop superstar Kylie Minogue, who wrote on Instagram, “Vale Sam 💔”
Fellow Kiwi actor Karl Urban also posted on Instagram, “Heartfelt condolences to your whānau. Sam was truly brilliant. An inspiration for many who followed in his trailblazing footsteps. A beautiful man. A national treasure who gave so much to New Zealand and to the world.”
Scottish actor Alan Cumming also wrote on Instagram, “Ahhh Sam, what a glorious beautiful man. You are missed. Sorry to the family for your immense loss.”
The official Peaky Blinders Instagram page posted a tribute to Neill, who played Inspector Chester Campbell in Seasons 1 and 2 of the series. “Sam’s portrayal of Chester Campbell is one for the ages,” it reads. “A villain who is despicable, petty, manipulative, but also charismatic, vulnerable, funny, and supremely entertaining to watch. Sam was one of the key forces that got Peaky Blinders off to a running start, for which we will be forever grateful.”
New Zealand’s former prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, posted on Instagram, “It was just a few weeks ago that I had the profound joy of sitting with Sam Neill, talking about life, politics, and home. He was such a thoughtful, curious, and decent person. Someone who was principled, unafraid of speaking his mind, and willing to take up a fight when he saw injustice.”
New Zealand’s current prime minister Christopher Luxon, meanwhile, called Neill “one of the greats” in his X post.
Fans have shared their own posts in tribute to Neill.
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Many have also been resharing Neill’s own viral post from 2019, which shows the actor giving sage life advice.
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