Show bosses on the hit gangster series have added to the tributes pouring in for the late actor, who passed away aged 78.
Sam Neill has been hailed as one of the “key forces” behind the Peaky Blinders series.
The Northern Ireland-born, New Zealand-raised actor died in Sydney, Australia, on Monday (13,07.26) aged 78, according to a statement issued by his family, and though the actor was best known internationally for playing Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, Sam also earned widespread acclaim on television as the ruthless Major Chester Campbell – opposite Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby in the first two series of Peaky Blinders.
The official Peaky Blinders social media account has now also honoured Sam’s performance as Major Chester Campbell with a statement that read: “We are devastated to hear that Sam Neill has died.”
It continued: “Sam’s portrayal of Chester Campbell is one for the ages. A villain who is despicable, petty, manipulative, but also charismatic, vulnerable, funny, and supremely entertaining to watch.”
The tribute also added: “Sam was one of the key forces that got Peaky Blinders off to a running start, for which we will be forever grateful.”
It concluded: “Our love and thoughts are with his family.”
Peaky Blinders’ leading man Cillian Murphy has also paid tribute to Sam, describing his late co-star on the show as “one of the finest actors”.
Tributes have poured in for Sam from across the film and television industries, recognising a career that spanned more than five decades and included The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Event Horizon, The Tudors, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and The Twelve.
His final films, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and The Last Resort, are due for posthumous release in 2027.
Cillian added in his tribute: “Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired him and adored him in equal measure.”
He added: “He was one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors…RIP.”
Joe Cole, who also appeared alongside Sam in Peaky Blinders, paid tribute on Instagram by writing: “Rest in peace big dog.”
Sam’s family confirmed the news of the actor’s death in a statement shared on Instagram.
It read: “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”
The statement also said: “The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free.”
The announcement came after Sam revealed in April that he was cancer-free following treatment, three years after disclosing that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern shared a tribute to the star on Instagram.
Jacinda wrote: “It was just a few weeks ago that I had the profound joy of sitting with Sam Neill, talking about 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.”
Jacinda concluded: “We’ve 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. Moi mai ra.”
Jurassic Park director Steven Spielberg has also paid tribute in a statement shared by Amblin Entertainment.
Steven said: “I owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Donaldson, Gillian Armstrong, Graham Baker and Phillip Noyce for casting Sam Neill in the roles in which he was so brilliant that brought him to my attention and led to his playing Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park.”
He added: “Sam 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.”
Steven continued: “I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him.”
Sam Neill hailed as one of ‘key’ driving forces behind Peaky Blinders
