Cillian Murphy’s moving tribute to Sam Neill will make you revisit Peaky Blinders
Cillian Murphy paid a heartfelt tribute to his Peaky Blinders co-star Sam Neill, who died Monday in Sydney at 78, praising the Major Chester Campbell actor as one of the finest actors.
If you spent any time with BBC Two's Peaky Blinders, you'll remember Sam Neill as Major (eventually Chief Inspector) Chester Campbell, a thorn in Tommy Shelby's side and a serious reason to never trust anyone in a bowler hat. Sadly, Sam Neill has died in Sydney at the age of 78, leaving behind a hefty back catalogue and a reputation on set that, frankly, puts most egos in the business to shame.
Cillian Murphy Speaks Out
Cillian Murphy – yes, the Oppenheimer chap, but don't get distracted – gave a genuinely heartfelt tribute after the news broke. These sorts of things can go a bit boilerplate, but Murphy was clear: he looked up to Neill as both a mate and as an actor. According to Murphy, '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. RIP.'
Turns out, Murphy and Neill didn't just clock off at the end of a Peaky Blinders filming day and never speak again. They stayed mates long after swapping period costumes for, presumably, regular clothes. When Murphy finally nabbed his first Best Actor Oscar in 2024 (about time), Sam Neill was right there cheering him on – loudly and, by his own admission, slightly tipsily. Neill posted on Instagram at the time:
'I could not be more thrilled, as you see. So well deserved. We had a great catch-up. And a Bloody Mary. Or two. What an actor, what a performance and what a movie.'
Sam Neill: A Bit of a Legend, Actually
- Kicked off his acting career in the 1970s
- First big critical moments: 'My Brilliant Career', 'Possession'
- Internationally famous after turning up in Jurassic Park as Dr. Alan Grant, which he reprised more than once (Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World Dominion, if your memory’s foggy)
- Other notables: 'The Hunt for Red October', 'The Piano', 'Event Horizon', 'The Horse Whisperer'
- Picked up quite a few awards, including AACTAs and New Zealand Film and Television gongs
- 2022: received a Knighthood – Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for significant contributions to acting
Neill wasn’t just always the most interesting person on screen – he was apparently one of the easier ones to share a drink with behind the scenes. No scandals, no histrionics, just solid work, good humour, and a reputation for being one of the decent ones in the trade.