Cillian Murphy Pays Tribute To ‘Peaky Blinders’ Co-Star Sam Neill: “I Admired & Adored Him”

Cillian Murphy has joined the chorus of tributes to Sam Neill, who has died at the age of 78.

In a statement shared with Deadline, Murphy remembered his Peaky Blinders co-star for his warmth and levity. The friends shared the screen together as Tommy Shelby and Chester Campbell.

Murphy said: “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.”

Neill and Murphy remained friends long after their two seasons of Peaky Blinders, with Neill among the first to toast Murphy’s Oscar triumph in 2024.

“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,” he wrote.

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The New Zealand actor, who was born in Northern Ireland, died in Sydney. The Peaky Blinders team said they were “devastated” by the news.

“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 said.

“Sam was one of the key forces that got Peaky Blinders off to a running start, for which we will be forever grateful. Our love and thoughts are with his family.”

Steven Spielberg was also among those leading tributes. The Jurassic Park director said: “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.”