‘A true gentleman’: actors, directors and leaders pay tribute to Sam Neill | Sam Neill

Sam Neill’s friends, peers and admirers have rushed to pay tribute to the actor after his sudden death on Monday at the age of 78.

Steven Spielberg, who directed Neill in Jurassic Park, said he was “saddened” by the news. “Sam was exceptionally collaborative,” he said. “It was a stretch for him to play a character who acted as though children were messy and smelly because this was the opposite of the loving father he was to his children.”

Laura Dern, his co-star in Jurassic Park, described Neill as a “beloved lifetime friend”. She said: “He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit. He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr Alan Grant.”

Nicole Kidman, who starred with Neill in 1989’s Dead Calm, said the New Zealand actor was “one of the greats” and “a joy to be around”. “He was charming, kind, funny and intelligent. He will be greatly missed and my heart goes out to his family.”

On Instagram, Jeff Goldblum posted and image of himself with Neill and Dern in Jurassic Park, writing: “The next great adventure begins. Love, always and forever.”

Neill’s co-star in A Long Way Down and the Australian crime caper Dirty Deeds, Toni Collette, called him a “hero,” “legend” and a “sweetheart”. She wrote: “Our great friend. You are already missed so very much. Continue in peace wherever you are.”

Cillian Murphy, who starred alongside the actor in Peaky Blinders, told Variety: “Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired him and adored him in equal measure. He was one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors…RIP.”

“Kind, wise, impish, graceful warm,” ussell Crowe wrote on X. “The last time I saw him I took the opportunity to tell him he was an inspiration to me. Rest in Peace Sam.”

The Australian director Phillip Noyce, who directed Neill in Dead Calm, told the Guardian: “Sam was perhaps the most gentlemanly actor ​I ever encountered. Level-headed and sincere in a show business world of crazy egos. His word was his contract.”

He added: “​In a strange way Sam was responsible for my long career in Hollywood. When there were rumours that George Miller might have secretly directed Dead Calm, Sam assured the American producer​, Mace Neufeld​, that I was indeed the director –​ and Mace then signed me to direct Harrison Ford in Patriot Games.”

The Jurassic World Dominion director, Colin Trevorrow, called Neill a “deeply soulful and beautiful man” who had supported him during challenging times. “I’ll remember him for his tranquility, his love of wine, and for the calm assuredness he brought to his characters.”

Richard E Grant, a friend of Neill’s for more than three decades who starred alongside him in 2019’s Palm Beach, called him “an officer and a gentleman in the truest sense. Guided and helped me through a very difficult time in my life.”

Alan Cumming called him “a glorious beautiful man”, while Kylie Minogue wrote: “Vale Sam 💔” – a Latin term for farewell or goodbye.

Cary Elwes called Neill “gentle, wise, compassionate, giving, funny and, of course, immensely talented”.

Universal Pictures wrote: “Rest in peace to our Jurassic legend, Sam Neill,” on X.

The actor Magda Szubanski, a friend whom Neill named one of his ducks after, said she was “absolutely shocked”.

“When I spoke to him not long ago, he was cancer-free and really happy and excited about life, so this is just devastating,” she said. “He was just a one-off. Just such a talented, classy, beautiful, wry, warm human being.”

The actor David Wenham said that “aside from being an international all-round legend”, Neill was “the kindest, cheekiest, most generous and supportive friend going around”.

The Australian journalist Laura Tingle, with whom Neill had a relationship, posted pictures of them together on Instagram and wrote: “Sweet Dreams darling Sam.”

The New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said Neill was one of the greats.

“He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of,” Luxon said in a social media post. “For more than 50 years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today – one of our greatest cultural exports. His work will be watched and loved long after all of us.”

The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, paid tribute to the actor, writing on X: “Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts. Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest in peace.”

The former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern said in a Facebook post that she had spent time with Neill just a few weeks ago and they discussed “life, politics, and home”. She added: “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. He was also an artist, and anyone who watched him perform knew he was someone special.”

Neill with Nicole Kidman in Phillip Noyce’s 1989 thriller Dead Calm. Photograph: Sportsphoto/Allstar

The novelist Kathy Lette said Neill’s unexpected death was heartbreaking: “Sam was not just a wonderful actor but also the most charming, kind, intelligent and deliciously self-deprecating friend. His wry, dry humour and mischievous twinkle lit up our lives.”

The Fijian New Zealand director Toa Fraser, whose film Dean Spanley starred Neill as the titular character, said: “Sam championed me and so many of us right from the start. He changed my life, by his example and his actions … it’s one of my big regrets that when he came to me on the set of Dean Spanley (more than once) and said, ‘Do you want to come for dinner,’ I declined. I had homework to do.

“Well I will be raising a glass of Hungarian Tokay this evening to him, and probably a glass of Pinot in the Burgundian tradition to him and his mentor James Mason too.”

Several New Zealand cultural figures paid tribute to Neill. The film producer Chelsea Winstanley remembered him as “a wonderful human, fighting to the end, for the whenua [land], for the screen”.

“Ngā mihi [thank you] Sam for all you gave to the screen industry, you will be missed. Your fight to save the whenua from extraction and exploitation will carry on … What a time you all had shaping the industry we love, thank you.”

The actor Joel Tobeck, who starred alongside Neill in 2003’s Perfect Strangers, wrote on Instagram: “This man made me feel like I could fly. Even when I was all over the place in his presence he made it OK. We loved to talk rugby. RIP my old mate. Sam Neill, a true gentleman.”

Rhys Darby, a fellow New Zealand and star of HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, wrote: “A truly great human, a legend and an inspiration to all even beyond the art world. We will always love you Sam.”

The New Zealand actor Karl Urban called Neill an inspiration for many who followed in his trailblazing footsteps. “A beautiful man, a national treasure who gave so much to New Zealand and the to world. God speed, Sam.”

Outside his acting work, Neill was a passionate environmentalist who campaigned for various causes including marine conservation and against mining proposals in New Zealand. After his death, New Zealand’s Department of Conservation called Neill “a legendary Kiwi” and “a fierce and passionate champion for our environment”.

“Whether it was advocating for our native species, supporting local conservation projects, or simply sharing his deep love for our unique landscapes, Sam walked the talk. He understood that our nature isn’t just something to look at, it’s something we must cherish and protect. His warmth, wit, and unwavering voice for the wild will be deeply missed.”