Gillian Armstrong honoured actor Sam Neill in the wake of his death in 2026. Armstrong explained that she was in disbelief he was gone the very next day. Her heartfelt message was published in IMDb reporting after the announcement.
Multiple news platforms included 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 remembered late celebrities like Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Hayden Panettiere.