'You are so loved': Taika Waititi remembers dear friend Sir Sam Neill
Director Taika Waititi has paid tribute to his friend and collaborator, the late actor Sir Sam Neill, who passed away suddenly at age 78. Waititi shared personal memories and photos from their time working together on films like Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Why it matters
Sir Sam Neill was a highly respected screen legend, and his sudden death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the international film community.
<p>Kiwi director Taika Waititi has remembered his "dear friend" Sir Sam Neill following the screen legend's death on Monday aged 78.</p> <p>Sir Sam <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/13/kiwi-screen-legend-sir-sam-neill-dies-aged-78/" target="_blank">died suddenly and unexpectedly in a Sydney hospital on Monday</a> aged 78.</p> <p>Waititi joins some of the <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/14/the-genuine-article-nzs-screen-community-remembers-sir-sam-neill/" target="_blank">country's biggest stars of stage and screen</a> in paying tribute to the Jurassic Park actor.</p> <p>He worked with the late actor famously on Hunt for the Wilderpeople and also a year later when Neill made a cameo appearance in the director's MCU film Thor: Ragnarok.</p> <p>The Boy director shared several photos to his Instagram on Wednesday, including photos from the set of Hunt for the Wilderpeople, a walk up Mount Eden the pair took with actor Julian Dennison, as well as screenshots…
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