Celebrities Mourn Sam Neill's 'Sudden' Death at 78: Cillian Murphy and More

Celebrities are mourning the loss of Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders star Sam Neill. Neill's family announced on Monday, July 13, that he died unexpectedly at age 78. They promised "more details will be shared later," asking for privacy as they navigate the loss. The statement noted that Neill remained cancer free and that the loss was "sudden and unexpected." Neill announced in his 2023 memoir that he had been diagnosed with stage III angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and eventually went into remission, though doctors told him the drug would stop working at some point. The official Peaky Blinders Instagram account shared a statement saying they were "devastated" and that Neill's portrayal of Chester Campbell "is one for the ages." Cillian Murphy remembered Neill as "one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors." Laura Dern, who starred alongside Neill in the Jurassic Park films, called him her "beloved lifetime friend" and "a true and noble gentleman." Steven Spielberg said he was "saddened" by the news, adding, "Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world."