Gillian Armstrong honoured actor Sam Neill following his death in 2026. Armstrong stated that she could not believe he was gone the very next day. Her heartfelt message was published in IMDb reporting after the announcement.
Multiple news platforms featured Neill in retrospectives of actors and public figures lost during 2026. Media lists from outlets including Yahoo, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Us Weekly, and Business Insider highlighted Neill alongside other famous figures lost this year. The media coverage honoured late celebrities including Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Hayden Panettiere.