Sam Neill, the acclaimed actor celebrated for his unforgettable performances in Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders, is no more. The actor has reportedly died unexpectedly at the age of 78 on July 13. His sudden passing has left his family, friends, and fans around the world in shock, especially after reports that he had been cancer-free for months.
The series paid tribute to Sam Neill, whose performance as Chester Campbell helped define its early success
Following the news, the Peaky Blinders team paid tribute to Neill, who featured in two seasons of the series as Major Chester Campbell, and remembered him for his exceptional talent and the lasting impact he left on film and television. In a heartfelt post on the show’s official Instagram account, the producers said they were devastated by the loss.
The post read, “Sam was one of the key forces that got Peaky Blinders off to a running start, for which we will be forever grateful. Our love and thoughts are with his family.” The team praised his character, describing him as an unforgettable villain who was despicable, petty, and manipulative, yet also charismatic, vulnerable, humorous, and captivating to watch. Neill’s Peaky Blinders co-star Joe Cole paid tribute on his Instagram story, writing, “Rest in peace, big dog,” Deadline reported.
Among those who paid tribute to the late actor was also former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who wrote 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. He was also an artist, and anyone who watched him perform knew he was someone special.”
Neill, whose breakthrough came in 1993’s Jurassic Park, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in March 2023, according to the BBC. Neill announced in April 2026 that scans had found no trace of cancer. His family later confirmed in a statement on July 13 that he remained cancer-free at the time of his death. The actor, who was married twice, to actress Lisa Harrow and make-up artist Noriko Watanabe, is survived by four children and eight grandchildren.
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Originally reported by Meenakshi Sengupta for Reality Tea
