Gillian Armstrong honoured actor Sam Neill in the wake of his death in 2026. Armstrong stated that she found it hard to accept he was gone the very next day. Her heartfelt message was published in IMDb reporting after the announcement.
Multiple news outlets listed 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 featured Neill in addition to other notable stars lost this year. The media coverage remembered late celebrities like Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Hayden Panettiere.