Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Steven Spielberg on the set of Jurassic Park in the early 1990s Steven Spielberg has paid a heartfelt tribute to the actor Sam Neill, who he directed in the first Jurassic Park movie. On Monday, the Oscar-winning filmmaker was among the Hollywood stars to pay their respects to Sam, following his death at the age of 78. In a statement to Variety, Spielberg shared how “saddened” he was by the loss, beginning by expressing his “gratitude” to filmmakers Roger Donaldson, Gilliam 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”, which led to him being cast in Jurassic Park. Spielberg enthused: “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. “I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him. Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our Jurassic family and Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world.” Laura Dern then shared her own tribute with the US outlet, which read: “Sam was my beloved lifetime friend. “He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit. He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man.” Laura Dern and Sam Neill played the leads in 1993's Jurassic Park “I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant,” she concluded. Following the news of Sam’s death on Monday morning, a number of his Hollywood peers and former co-stars have been paying their respects on social media… View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram I’m just absolutely devastated. Darling Sam. I really don’t have any words right now. I’m in complete shock. Last time we spoke he was going so well. My heart goes out to his family and all who love him - and there are so many of us. Vale my darling friend 💔💔💔💔#Sam#samneill — Magda Szubanski AO (@MagdaSzubanski) July 13, 2026 Oscar winner Cillan Murphy, who starred alongside Sam in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders, told Deadline: “Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired him and adored him in equal measure. “He was one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors.” View this post on Instagram New Zealand and Australia’s prime ministers, Christopher Luxon and Anthony Albanese, also posted tributes of their own. Sir Sam Neill was one of the greats. He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of. For more than fifty years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today – one of our greatest… — Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) July 13, 2026 Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts. Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much… — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 13, 2026 “It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13 July, in Sydney Australia,” his family announced in a statement. “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.” The Emmy nominee’s death was described as “sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free”. READ MORE: Jurassic Park And Peaky Blinders Star Sam Neill Has Died, Aged 78