Lindsay Duncan, Charles Dance, and director Peter Webber have shared heartfelt memories of Sam Neill, describing him as a warm, unpretentious actor and a generous friend who brought joy to every set.
Lindsay Duncan: 'A gorgeous man and a wonderful actor'
Duncan, who co-starred with Neill in Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983) and Blackbird (2019), recalled his kindness. 'He was a gorgeous man. He was a wonderful actor. He was warm and funny. He listened when you talked. He made wine and he shared it. What more do you want from a guy?' she said.
During Neill's cancer treatment, the Blackbird cast rallied to cheer him up. Mia Wasikowska commissioned a cake depicting a pig and a sheep in an intimate act, alongside a bottle of Two Paddocks wine. 'Just a few of the things he loved, in one cake,' Duncan added. The group also got matching Blackbird tattoos.
Charles Dance: 'He wasn't tarnished by cardinal ambition'
Dance, who worked with Neill on Plenty (1985), To the Ends of the Earth (2005), and And Then There Were None (2015), praised his balance. 'In an industry full of quite dubious people, Sam was one of the good guys. He was a wonderful, unfussy actor with immense charm,' Dance said. 'He was always far more interested in the quality of his wine than in any awards.'
When Neill was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live, Dance sent an email. 'He wrote back saying: “Great to hear from you mate!” With him, what you saw was what you got. I think that was one of the reasons he inspired so much affection.'
Peter Webber: 'He made everyone feel like they were in on the joke'
Webber, who directed Neill in Tutankhamun (2016), recalled his fascination with puff adder venom—cytotoxic venom that dissolves tissue. 'Sam would recount all of this at length, over dinner, with the kind of glee most people reserve for describing a good wine, then pause, take a sip of his own, and say something like, “Anyway, lovely sunset tonight.”'
Webber also remembered Neill's elaborate practical jokes. He convinced a young actor to eat a big mouthful of cake for a scene, then shot 20 takes. 'The poor woman was still forcing spoonful after spoonful into her mouth. Eyes watering. Cheeks like a hamster. The whole crew were in on it by take three. Sam never cracked.'
'He made everyone on set feel like they were in on the joke, even when they were the joke. A fine actor. A finer man. I'll miss him,' Webber concluded.
