Gillian Armstrong paid tribute to actor Sam Neill after his sad passing in 2026. Armstrong stated that she was in disbelief he was gone the very next day. Her tribute was published in IMDb reporting after the announcement.
Multiple news outlets featured Neill in memorial lists of actors and public figures lost during 2026. Media lists from outlets including Yahoo, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Us Weekly, and Business Insider remembered Neill in addition to other well known personalities lost this year. The media coverage honoured late celebrities like Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Hayden Panettiere.