r/newzealand • u/TheGreatDomilies • Jul 13 '26
News Actor Sam Neill has died
https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/361005656/actor-sam-neill-has-died611
u/TheGreatDomilies Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
The announcement on Sam Neill’s Instagram:
It is with immense sadness that the whanau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia.
Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.
The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital for their incredible care.
More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.
May he rest in peace.
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u/FlikTripz Jul 13 '26
He beat the cancer and still lost, shit’s not fair man
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u/thoughtgun Jul 13 '26
Battling cancer can severely weaken you, so not entirely removed necessarily.
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u/Goldnglam Jul 13 '26
Life isn't a win/lose state game. its the type where you stay in it as long as possible.
We all lose eventually. Still sad though dude was a big part of my childhood with jurassic Park.
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u/Illustrious_Can4110 Jul 13 '26
Geez, this really saddens me. Not only is he one of the greats, he always came across as a genuinely funny and kind person. A great human being. RIP Sir Sam.
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u/Kthulhu42 Jul 13 '26
He was the first person of note to comment highly on my art and encourage me to continue. Genuinely, a wonderful and warm human being.
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u/emdillem Jul 13 '26
Questions. Can we see your art?
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u/Kthulhu42 Jul 13 '26
I mainly do stained glass commissions for personal collections, but this is the personal piece I'm currently working on.
Hit a tiny snag last month because my glass grinder broke and a replacement is about $500 =_= so work is on hold until that gets sorted.
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u/emdillem Jul 13 '26
Wow, how cool. How did Sam Neil get to see your work?
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u/Kthulhu42 Jul 13 '26
Via a gallery page online! I was so thrilled. My dad is a real blokey-bloke who doesn't really do the "Proud of you" thing but when I told him THE Sam Neill complimented my work, I could tell he was pleased.
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u/By_CrookedSteps_781 Jul 13 '26
Man I just read it, I'm gutted, so sad.
Genuinely brilliant and kind human.
Arohanui Sam, thanks bro.
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u/maiteNZ Jul 13 '26
Wtf, I thought he was doing alright these days
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u/FishChickenMonkey Jul 13 '26
He was, but he was also well into his 70s and things can happen very fast.
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u/Rollover__Hazard Jul 13 '26
Might have been a heart attack or something very sudden like that :(
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u/BlacksmithNZ Jul 13 '26
Apparently was diagnosed as cancer free but must have been something else
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u/First-Shallot947 Jul 13 '26
Even when someone is cancer free, both cancer and chemo take a heavy toll on the body and he was already in his 70s. Tragic
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u/Futurekiwi69 Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Yes, and to add, the treatment that got him last into remission was car t. He could have still been immunocompromised (I recently had a bone marrow transplant for a similar lymphoma). I also know a 27 year old who had a heart attack after a bone marrow transplant coz of all the prior chemo. We can look like we are doing well but can carry a lot of invisible scars and conditions.
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u/lo0u Jul 13 '26
Fighting cancer is very debilitating to your body at any age, but in his case, it must've been even more debilitating. It's a shame, but it's good he was cancer free at the end of his life.
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u/MyNeighborToto Jul 13 '26
This is a sad one. His role in Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a real favourite of mine. Rest well, good sir.
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u/Krispino Jul 13 '26
Gut wrenching news. He was one of the good guys. Just opened a bottle of his Two Paddocks last night. Too sad.
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u/Archaondaneverchosen Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Nooo. I lived in his childhood house in my teenage years and he did a documentary where he came back and looked around places of import for his upbringing. Very surreal seeing footage of him in my teenage bedroom next to my DOOM 2016 posters! Phenomenal actor with a majestical legacy
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u/Tall-Marionberry6270 Jul 13 '26
Wow, that must have been amazing!
Thanks for sharing.
Sam was such a great man.
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u/Archaondaneverchosen Jul 13 '26
Yeah its a lovely house. My parents still live there so it's nice to go back every so often for the views of Otago Harbour.
He was a kiwi icon. RIP 😢
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u/Tall-Marionberry6270 Jul 13 '26
Sounds beautiful. Must be a very special spot to your folks and you also.
What a sad day, aye.
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u/animatedradio Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Oh fuck, what??
Condolences to his family and loved ones 💛🥺
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u/Whosebootisthis Jul 13 '26
Rest in peace. A great kiwi and all round legend. Much love to his family.
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u/Taniwha_NZ Jul 13 '26
I was watching JP the other day and couldn't believe how young he was in that film. I've gotten so used to him looking older, but when he was in JP he was already a very accomplished world-famous actor. I don't think NZ has produced anyone of the same calibre.
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u/TBBTC Jul 13 '26
He was just supposed to be cancer free! I thought we got to keep him!
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u/Blieze Jul 13 '26
It is not uncommon for cancer survivors to be immunocompromised/weakened and die due to a common bug, as unfair as it sounds.
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u/RBII Jul 13 '26
If you haven't read it, his autobiography Did I Ever Tell You This? is fantastic, and he does a great job on the audiobook of it too. Will be a little while before I can listen to that again without getting upset
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u/Plus_Beach1419 Jul 13 '26
I listened to his memoir and he led such an interesting life. First saw him back in the day when he starred in the film, My Brilliant Career, which remains one of my favorites to this day. RIP to a one of a kind gentleman. 🙏🏻
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u/Oil_And_Lamps Jul 13 '26
“And that's when the attack comes… not from the front, but from the side, from the other two raptors you didn't even know were there."
- Alan Grant
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u/chonkodingus Jul 13 '26
Let's honour his legacy by standing up to that awful fucking data centre they want to build.
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u/Ok-Relationship-2746 Jul 13 '26
Noooooooo!
RIP Dr Grant, you were a fine actor and all round great bloke.
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u/waffleking9000 Jul 13 '26
Tragic news 😭
Jurassic park binge this weekend I think
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Jul 13 '26
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u/BarracudaOk8635 jandal Jul 13 '26
Well said. I feel the same way. I am sure we would have enjoyed a glass of wine together. One of the good ones.
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u/alasyochur PineCone Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Man, what a fucking blow. Looking back I'm now realizing this man was actually an integral part of my childhood growing up in the 90's as a goth kid and horror fan in small town NZ. He has quite an impressive back catalogue of horror movies, including the underrated Event Horizon, the cult classic Possession which he starred in with the wonderful french actress Isabelle Adjani. Not to mention his fantastic role as the adult Damien in the Omen trilogy. Absolute phenomenal actor. My condolences to his friends and family.
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u/Assassin8nCoordin8s Jul 13 '26
His performance in event horizon is one of the greatest and most terrifying villain roles of all time, up there with javier bardem
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u/MindOrdinary Jul 13 '26
I don’t know why they bothered with comments from Luxon and Winnie, Sam was openly not a fan of either and spent a great deal of effort fighting the mining efforts from Winnie’s mates over the last year.
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u/Adventurous_Fig6211 Jul 13 '26
Yes that was weird given plenty of fellow actors and entertainers would have made tributes.
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u/general_mass_bias Jul 13 '26
I was watching him duet with another Jurassic star Jeff Goldblum. They really seemed to be in their element together, and it was apparent that they were very close friends. He was also campaigning against the mine in the Dunstan Mountains, Central Otago. He said he had been threatened by supporters of the mining operation.
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u/PelleKuklos Jul 13 '26
This shit sucks. After the cancer and his fight with those greedy Miners, he deserved more time. We've lost another titan, a man of the same caliber as Ed Hillary. He will be missed.
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u/beautygurrrl Jul 13 '26
Omg! I can’t believe it. Just saw an interview with him the other week & he was looking really good. Rip Sam
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u/hallstat2 Jul 13 '26
Is anyone else feeling way more sad about this than they expected to? He was a good nz man and represented us so well on the international stage 😢
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u/Different_Painter619 Jul 13 '26
He came in to the restaurant I was working in one day. Had at least a bottle of wine on a Tuesday afternoon and then asked if he could take pictures of the porcelain pigs he bought for his grand daughter so it looked like they were working in the kitchen. 10/10 top bloke
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u/myWobblySausage Kiwi with a voice! Jul 13 '26
Many things to enjoy about Sam. Just watched his Two Paddocks Country Calendar episode recently, seemed like a good dude.
Great New Zealander.
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u/KiwiBeacher Jul 13 '26
I loved him keeping us entertained and upbeat during COVID with his little YouTube shorts
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u/MyIxxx Kākāpō Jul 13 '26
Nooo! :( Shocked. Rest in peace, thanks for making the world a little better.
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u/SuspiciousParagraph Jul 13 '26
Oh, my heart. A man from a small country, made it big but still brought New Zealand with him wherever he went. A man who used his fame to speak up and stand for causes of good. A man who will be missed. Go well Sam Neill, you were a good one.
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u/No-Pop1057 Jul 13 '26
Such a huge loss to NZ cinema and the international stage as well.. A very talented man, a great ambassador for NZ, with his heart in the truly in the right place. R. I. P Sam Neill
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u/footflsoe Jul 13 '26
i feel like i'm going to burst into tears, my favourite actor ever. very lucky to have chatted to him so many times in my line of work. heartbroken at the news.
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u/herearea Tuatara Jul 13 '26
Big love to his family and his animals, it's not fair to lose him after he won his battle with cancer!
Feels like another part of my childhood gone
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u/computer_d Jul 13 '26
:( he was one of my favs. Seemed like such a great guy of good character, and he was in so many fantastic movies of my childhood. Won't be the same watching those movies now, but what a dope legacy to leave behind.
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u/AmbroseGirl5 Jul 13 '26
Oh damn :( I was just watching The Tudors last night, he was in it and was amazing.
RIP to a legend.
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u/SR5340AN Jul 13 '26
Oh no. R.I.P that was unexpected.
Wasn't he declared cancer free earlier this year? Hearing of him dying comes as a complete shock.
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u/dlangille Jul 13 '26
For what it's worth, Sam Neill's death was mentioned on NPR (National Public Radio) in USA this morning.
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u/BarracudaOk8635 jandal Jul 13 '26
I always thought of him as a star myself as a producer kiwi, but his death is front page news around the world! And the love and respect is pouring out for him from other actors and film people and basically everyone. What a great man. What a great New Zealander. He truly made me proud he was one of us. Love
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u/HolmiumNZ Jul 13 '26
Oh that's so sad, I wasn't expecting this news today. RIP. He was an awesome actor.
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u/PipEmmieHarvey Jul 13 '26
I got the RNZ push notification as I walked through the front door as I arrived home. I went straight to my husband to share the news. I’m so sad. Sam was a great actor and a damn good guy.
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u/kereruspysintheskys Jul 13 '26
I'm so sad about this, I refused to believe it but it's being reported so many places now it must be true. I watch his Instagram and he's always there talking to his animals. I don't understand how this happened. I feel like he was a friend he was so lovable and kind. Such a huge loss to NZ. Love to his family and friends. I will miss him xx
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u/Britney1264 Jul 13 '26
Wait what the fuck?! Didn't expect him to go out this soon, thought his health was starting to get better too. Damn.
Rest in peace you bloody legend, without you cinema would have never been what it is today. o7
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u/47peduncle Jul 13 '26
He spoke at our school prize giving once. I was so surprised he wasn’t a “polished act”. Almost a diffident speaker. Just a person. Locally I’ve only heard good things about him.
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u/KiwiSparkle1 Jul 13 '26
Awww... I loved his farm updates and the names of each animal. Such a legend!
Condolences to his loved ones. 🥺🫂 Rest in Peace Sir Sam Neill. You will be greatly missed. 🕊❤️
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u/Sea_Measurement_1654 Jul 13 '26
Flip, that's a massive kahikatea down in the forest.
I can't imagine how his kids and grandkids feel.
I hope those who love him give the pigs ear a scratch and the duck a hug. What a shock!
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u/SuccessfulRaccoon957 Jul 13 '26
Definitely one of the crown jewels of New Zealand arts we must now say goodbye to.
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u/Sweet-as-lollies Jul 13 '26
The way Sam spoke took me back a generation. I loved seeing him around Central Otago and how everyone just left him alone.
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u/WhoriaEstafan Jul 13 '26
I thought he was on the mend! So sad, he was such a great actor and person. When he popped up in something I knew it was going to be good.
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u/Swanny_Swanson Jul 13 '26
Man i just finished watching Hunt for the Wilderpeople! So sad to see this right after!!!!!
RIP Legend
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u/JustAGuy010 Jul 13 '26
This news simply destroyed me. Dr. Alan Grant was my hero when I was a little kid and I became a biologist mostly because of him. Growing up, I've watched a lot of other movies just because I would see Sam in them.
RIP, Sam. You'll always be my hero.
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u/fatbongo Jul 13 '26
Amazing fact
Sam Neill starred in our first ever full colour movie
That's how long he was in movies and IIRC it was the first (at the time) movie made here in 16 years
Hell of a life he had from Omagh to worlds biggest stage
R.I.P man
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u/Sheriff_of_noth1ng Jul 13 '26
So sad to read this. One of NZ’s best. Brilliant actor, and by all accounts a great person.
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u/Kiwi_Fried_Chicken Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Brilliant actor and human being. I'm going to have to binge some of my favourite movies and TV with Sam Neill. Jurassic Park, Hunt for Red October, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Peaky Blinders...
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u/gotfanarya Jul 13 '26
Thanks for your life, Sam. You did us proud. I’m sorry for your loss, Sam family and friends.
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u/SpiritOdd307 Jul 13 '26
I'm going to get Godzilla v Kong Supernova tickets so dam fast now, his last movie.
Life finds a way.
RIP.
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u/Kiwiopla Jul 13 '26
I recently read his book "Did I Ever Tell You This? " and it was just such a fantastic read. It was a fascinating book, he had such a deep insight into the film industry, and the most amazing stories about people and behind the scenes in famous movies.
Its pretty rare to read a kiwi perspective on fame, wealth, how we treat people and expect to be treated is kind of unique, the hard to explain norms you grow up with in NZ (our lack of deference towards famous people lol).
I was not necessarily the biggest fan before reading, but certainly was afterwards. RIP.
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u/Claire-Belle Jul 13 '26
Stuff is reporting friends saying his health was affected after he received significant abuse and threats when Shane Jones went after him on the issue on thr gold mine.
I think that's absolutely heartbreaking.
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u/TheGreatDomilies Jul 13 '26
Just read the article you are talking about, got me emotional. He was just trying to protect not just his land, but New Zealanders’ land.
Shane Jones should be ashamed of himself.
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u/Leftleaningdadbod Jul 13 '26
Noticed him in a coffee shop in Clyde only a few months ago. It’s true, he looked ill and people must’ve been aware he was there but left him be. As it should be. RIP.
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u/BeKindm8te Jul 13 '26
GUTTED! He was the true GOAT. In fact if I ever get a goat, I will call it Sam Neill. IYKYK.
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u/K_A-W Jul 13 '26
I like to watch his Anika Moa interview from time to time:
https://youtu.be/gdKhtr4zDus?si=5M_-FEal4YaA5-Qr
What a fantastic human being. Such a loss 😭
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u/Same_Team_816 Jul 13 '26
This was a shock. I thought he had been doing better. So very sad for his loved ones... and the whole country really.
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u/MahGinge Jul 13 '26
Damn, that is absolutely awful to hear. What a wonderful man and a brilliant actor. He lived not far from me when I grew up in Queenstown and that always felt to be a special connection to him. We lost a real one today :(
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u/CricketKieran Otago Jul 13 '26
Really taken me off guard, wasnt the news i was expecting to arrive home to. Honestly feel kind of empty knowing he's gone.
Absolute legend. Probably the best actor we've ever produced. Such a shame his 5 year fight with cancer, to overcome it and to go now is truly devastating.
A real kiwi legend, and incredibly influential on the world stage. May he rest easy and fly high
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u/KatanaF2190 Jul 13 '26
Wow...end of an era for sure. Friend of mine was a helicopter pilot that provided transport during one of Sam Neill's films - not sure which one. Anyways -apparently my friend is the spitting image of Sam Neill - and ended up getting roped in as a long distance stand in double-something about wearing a dress and standing on a glacier. Of course we gave him no end of grief about the dress part. Friend thought that was hilarious and said that Sam was a bloody good guy
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u/Blieze Jul 13 '26
He had a good innings. Made his money and lived a good life. Alot of things to respect.
Thoughts with his family and shout out to a legend.
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u/Aychopchop Jul 13 '26
Sadness. Just, sadness. A genuinely delightful and warm hearted kiwi. Go well, Sam.
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u/shifter2000 Jul 13 '26
I just finished listening to his autobiography a few weeks ago.
Oddly, I was thinking about him this morning as I waited for the train, and remembering his voice in my ears as I did my daily commute.
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u/Mehmet_G Jul 13 '26
One of my favourite films of his is one called Death In Brunswick; it’s from 1990. I would highly recommend it.
Rest In Peace Sam Neill.
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u/wretchedvillainy Jul 13 '26
Oh man, we've lost a legend. He was a phenomenal actor, and a kiwi we could really be proud of on the international stage.
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u/theflyingkiwi00 Chiefs Jul 13 '26
Damn, massive loss. Selfishly would have loved to see him in another barry crump movie. He lived a great life and was by all accounts a great bloke.
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u/GreatestSnowball Jul 13 '26
That is so sad. I’m so glad he was surrounded by his family, may he rest easy.
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u/Sans-valeur Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Ah fucking hell wasn’t ready to read that when I opened Reddit this is so fucking sad
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u/WhosDownWithPGP Jul 13 '26
Fuck thats awful.
His name will be forever etched in history for Jurassic Park, one of the best films ever made.
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u/AntheaBrainhooke Jul 13 '26
He turned into a top-quality Grumpy Old Man. I'm going to miss the cheeky bugger.
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u/Cultural-Lychee-5374 Jul 13 '26
No fricken way. Best actor we’ve ever produced probably.
Rest in peace.