Fellow actors and fans of Sam Neill mourned his passing<\/a><\/span> after the New Zealand actor died Monday following a diagnosis of a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.<\/p>\n Neill achieved his highest level of fame in \u201cJurassic Park\u201d<\/a><\/span> playing paleontologist Alan Grant, who is summoned to an island off Costa Rica where a theme park has been built to house herds of cloned dinosaurs. He co-starred alongside Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough. <\/p>\n Neill earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in the title role of the 1998 miniseries \u201cMerlin\u201d and another as narrator of 2017\u2019s \u201cWild New Zealand.\u201d Neill also earned three Golden Globe nods \u2014 for \u201cMerlin,\u201d \u201cOne Against the Wind\u201d and \u201cReilly: Ace of Spies.\u201d<\/p>\n Some notable reactions:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n AP AUDIO: Nicole Kidman, Richard E. Grant, Cillian Murphy and more mourn the death of Sam Neill\n <\/p>\n <\/bsp-custom-headline><\/p>\n AP correspondent Luke Garratt reports on the death of actor Sam Neill.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cSam was exceptionally collaborative. 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. I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him. Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our Jurassic family and Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world.\u201d \u2014 in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cSam was my beloved lifetime friend\u2026 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.\u201d \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/bsp-list-loadmore><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cKnew @samneilltheprop<\/a><\/span> for 3 decades and finally worked with him on \u2018PALM BEACH\u2019 in 2018. An officer and a Gentleman in the truest sense. Guided and helped me through a very difficult time in my Life \u2026 Sail on, kind Sir. \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cLike 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 \u2026 RIP.\u201d \u2014 in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cSam was one of the greats, a joy to be around,\u201d she said. \u201cWe met when I was just 18 and he took me under his wing and we stayed friends for life. He was charming, kind, funny and intelligent. He will be greatly missed, and my heart goes out to his family.\u201d \u2014 in a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m deeply saddened by the untimely loss of my dear friend, @samneilltheprop<\/a><\/span>. We first crossed paths years ago through our work, but what I came to treasure most was the man himself\u2014funny, endlessly curious, wickedly intelligent, generous, and always able to make you feel at ease. … He carried himself with grace, humility, and a wonderfully mischievous sense of humor that made every conversation a pleasure. … Rest peacefully, Sam. You\u2019ll be missed more than words can say.\u201d \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cSam Neill was a deeply soulful and beautiful man. He was a friend and collaborator at a challenging time, and his strength gave us all strength. I\u2019ll remember him for his tranquility, his love of wine, and for the calm assuredness he brought to his characters. It\u2019s not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend. Forever grateful.\u201d \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cSir Sam Neill was one of the greats. He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of. For more than fifty years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today \u2014 one of our greatest cultural exports.\u201d \u2014 via X<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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. … We\u2019ve lost another incredible kiwi, and I feel profoundly sad. All my aroha to his whanau and friends. And to you, Sam, you have our gratitude and admiration. Rest easy. Moe mai r\u0101\u201d \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cSam 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.\u201d \u2014 via X<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Sam Neill was the greatest theatrical creation of little Nigel Neill, a little boy with a stutter who was sent off to boarding school at eight years of age and spent his life in flight ever after that and showing off to make friends in new places. And I think that the humanity of that is what made him so approachable and so loved by so many people who saw all his work in television and movies.\u201d \u2014 in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp.<\/p>\n \u201cMy condolences and appreciation for the immense joy and mastery Sam Neill brought our industry. Do yourself a favor and find \u2018DEAN SPANLEY\u2019 on a streamer- he\u2019s wonderful and it will soothe someplace in your spirit that needs it now. \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis 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.\u201d \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cSuch a shock \u2014 loved by so many \u2014 I\u2019ll be cracking two paddocks tonight,\u201d referring to wine from the actor\u2019s vineyard, via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cVale Sam,\u201d a Latin term for \u201cfarewell\u201d that\u2019s often used in Australia and New Zealand, via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.\u201d \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cSending love and condolences to your family. A remarkable man and artist. NZ loses a giant and one of its greatest gifts.\u201d \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the greatest of honours to shout at Sam onscreen and to laugh ourselves silly offscreen. He was truly the most wondrous human. Not was. Still is. Will always be. Such is his incredible legacy of life, art, advocacy and love.\u201d \u2014 via Instagram<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nSteven Spielberg<\/h2>\n
Laura Dern, actor<\/h2>\n
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\nRichard E. Grant, actor<\/h2>\n
Cillian Murphy, actor<\/h2>\n
Nicole Kidman, actor<\/h2>\n
Billy Zane, actor<\/h2>\n
Colin Trevorrow, director<\/h2>\n
Christopher Luxon, prime minister of New Zealand<\/h2>\n
Jacinda Ardern, former prime minister of New Zealand<\/h2>\n
Anthony Albanese, prime minister of Australia<\/h2>\n
Laura Tingle, Australian journalist and Neill\u2019s former partner<\/h2>\n
Sharon Lawrence, actor<\/h2>\n
Joel Tobeck, actor<\/h2>\n
Rachel Griffiths, actor<\/h2>\n
Kylie Minogue, singer <\/h2>\n
Toni Collette, actor<\/h2>\n
Lesley-Ann Brandt, actor<\/h2>\n
Kate Mulvany, actor<\/h2>\n