‘He Was Family’: Jimmy Barnes Reflects on Late Actor Sam Neill

Versatile. Joyful. Family. Sam Neill was all of those things and more to Jimmy Barnes, the great Australian rocker.

Neill, the Northern Ireland-born, New Zealand-raised actor who memorably led the way in scores of films, from ‘90s blockbuster Jurassic Park to Jane Campion’s Academy Award-winner The Piano, Event Horizon, Dead Calm, My Brilliant Career, the Peaker Blinders series, and many others, died Monday, March 13. He was 78.

“What a day it’s been. My dear friend Sam left us today,” writes Barnes, who boasts an unmatched 22 No. 1 albums in Australia, including 16 solo leaders and six with Cold Chisel. “I can’t believe we will no longer be eating great food together and sharing the odd glass of wine down at his winery, while laughing, singing and solving the problems of the world together.”

Neill, he continues, “was a big part of our lives. He was family. He lifted our spirits when he walked in the room. Sam was everything he appeared to be on the screen. Caring, funny, intelligent, charming, honest, talented, the list could go on. He sat with me while I recovered in hospital and I sat with him when he needed me. We shared a lot in this life and for that, I will be always thankful. Rest easy, dear Sam. You are always in our hearts.”

Fellow Australian rockers The Cruel Sea remembered Neill for his “superb acting and his wonderful presence off screen,” and for those quirky videos that kept the flame burning for so many of us during the pandemic — including a Radiohead cover, performed on ukulele. “One of my great small joys through Covid and recent years was to follow him on Instagram. Such a funny and charming man full of humble Kiwi stoicism and humanity,” writes The Cruel Sea’s bass player Kenny Gormly.

Neill had friends everywhere, across the creative industries and into the halls of power. He attended the ARIA Hall of Fame ceremony in Sydney on June 11, a special guest of inductee and fellow Kiwi Jenny Morris.

Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern inducted Morris on the night, and “had the profound joy of sitting with Sam Neill, talking about life, politics, and home,” she recounts in a social post. “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. We’ve lost another incredible kiwi, and I feel profoundly sad.”

Prior to his passing, Neill fought and beat an advanced blood cancer, Stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, thanks to an innovative CAR T-cell therapy. He was cancer-free at the time of his death. However, his immune system was comprised by his treatment and the beloved actor wasn’t able to recover from pneumonia.

His death was confirmed in a post on his official Instagram account.

“It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia,” the post reads. “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.”

Neill’s survivors include his children, Andrew, Tim and Elena, and six grandchildren.

Read more on his life and career at The Hollywood Reporter.