Cillian Murphy speaks out after death of Peaky Blinders co-star Sam Neill with touching tribute

“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,” Mr Murphy said.

The pair appeared together in the hit BBC drama, with Mr Murphy playing gang leader Tommy Shelby opposite Mr Neill’s ruthless Inspector Chester Campbell across the show’s opening two series.

Their on-screen rivalry gave way to a lasting friendship that continued for years after filming ended.

Mr Neill passed away on Monday in Sydney, Australia, with his family by his side.

A statement released on behalf of his loved ones confirmed the news, describing his death as “sudden and unexpected” while noting he departed “with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”

The family revealed that despite the shock of his passing, Mr Neill had remained cancer-free at the time of his death.

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The Jurassic Park star had been diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, back in 2022.

After chemotherapy proved ineffective, he underwent CAR T-cell therapy, which he credited with saving his life.

Just months ago, in April, Mr Neill had announced his remission and expressed excitement about returning to work.

The Peaky Blinders production team expressed their devastation at the news, posting a tribute to their seven million Instagram followers.

“Sam’s portrayal of Chester Campbell is one for the ages. A villain who is despicable, petty, manipulative, but also charismatic, vulnerable, funny, and supremely entertaining to watch,” the show’s official account stated.

Producers credited Mr Neill as instrumental in establishing the drama’s early momentum, saying he was “one of the key forces that got Peaky Blinders off to a running start, for which we will be forever grateful.”

Fellow cast members also shared their grief online.

Joe Cole, who played John Shelby, wrote simply: “Rest in peace big dog.”

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His brother Finn Cole added: “Rest easy, Sam.”

Steven Spielberg, who directed Mr Neill in the original Jurassic Park, led tributes from Hollywood.

“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,” the filmmaker said.

“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.”

Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow remembered Neill as “a deeply soulful and beautiful man” whose “strength gave us all strength.”

Neill had remained close to Murphy, celebrating his Oppenheimer Oscar victory in 2024 with “a Bloody Mary. Or two.”