Sam Neill’s love of “ships, the sea, and Scotland” remembered after actor dies aged 78
The Jurassic Park actor, who has died aged 78, was the patron of the charity which is restoring the Clyde steamer TS Queen Mary, which is docked at Govan
A charity has remembered actor Sam Neill’s love of “ships, the sea, and Scotland” after he died aged 78.
The Jurassic Park star was Commonwealth patron of the Clyde steamship TS Queen Mary, which is being restored in a multimillion-pound project.
Neill, who was born in Northern Ireland, took on the charity role in 2022 at the encouragement of his friend Robbie Coltrane.
Launched in 1933, the Queen Mary was built in Dumbarton and is currently berthed at the Glasgow Science Centre in Govan.
The charity Friends of TS Queen Mary applauded the enthusiasm which Neill brought to the role.
The actor, who also starred in the first two series the hugely successful television show Peaky Blinders, is understood to have travelled around Scotland during the 1970s.
Iain Sim, chairman of the TS Queen Mary, said: “We are shocked and saddened by the passing of Sam, our Commonwealth Patron.
“His loss is immeasurable and we send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.
“Sam was universally popular within the movie industry and beyond thanks to a stellar career and he lived a full and rewarding life. We will miss him immensely.
“It was typical of Sam that he needed little persuading to take up the role — a lifelong lover of ships, the sea, and of Scotland, he understood instinctively what TS Queen Mary meant, both as a piece of maritime history and as a symbol of what a community can achieve when it refuses to let something remarkable be lost.”
He continued: “Sam was unfailingly supportive and encouraging, following our progress with genuine enthusiasm and never short of kind words for the volunteers and trustees giving their time to bring Queen Mary back to life.
“His patronage brought not just his name but his heart to our cause.”
Described as “Britain’s finest pleasure steamer”, the ship carried 13,000 passengers each week during its heyday.
Neill was diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022, which caused him to take a short break from acting, and had announced he was cancer-free earlier this year.
The actor died in Sydney, Australia on Monday.
A family statement said: “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.
“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free.
“They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.
“More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”
Neill also appeared in films including The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Dead Calm and Event Horizon. In Peaky Blinders, he played sadistic, corrupt senior police officer Major Chester Campbell.
Actor Cillian Murphy has described his Peaky Blinders co-star as “one of the finest actors” after his death.
He 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.”
The show’s official page also posted a tribute on social media which read: “We are devastated to hear that Sam Neill has died.
“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.
“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.”
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