Steven Spielberg has honoured Sam Neill following the actor’s death at age 78. The director praised his longtime “Jurassic Park” star as “exceptionally collaborative” and said he “will never be forgotten.”

Neill, a New Zealand actor, gained worldwide fame for playing Dr Alan Grant in “Jurassic Park” (1993). He later returned for “Jurassic Park III” (2001) and “Jurassic World Dominion” (2022).

Spielberg Reflects on Neill’s Career

In a statement to Variety, Spielberg recalled the performances that first caught his attention and led to Neill’s casting in “Jurassic Park.”

“I owe a debt of gratitude to 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 and led to his playing Dr Alan Grant in ‘Jurassic Park,’” Spielberg said.

The filmmaker also praised Neill’s work ethic and approach to filmmaking.

“Sam was exceptionally collaborative,” Spielberg said. “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.”

A Lasting Jurassic Legacy

Spielberg said Neill remained an important part of the “Jurassic” family throughout the franchise’s run.

“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.”

Neill revealed in 2022 that doctors had diagnosed him with stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. Earlier this year, he said he was cancer-free.

His family described his passing as “sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free.”

“Jurassic World Dominion” director Colin Trevorrow also paid tribute to the actor.

“Sam Neill was a deeply soulful and beautiful man. He was a friend and collaborator at a challenging time, and his strength gave us all strength. I’ll remember him for his tranquillity, his love of wine, and for the calm assuredness he brought to his characters. It’s not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend. Forever grateful.”