Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern reunite to honor 'beloved friend' Sam Neill after his death
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern have paid tribute to their longtime friend and 'Jurassic Park' co-star Sam Neill following his death at 78 by raising a glass of wine from his Two Paddocks vineyard in New Zealand.
Their tribute came after his family announced his sudden and unexpected passing in Sydney. His death sparked an outpouring of tributes from friends and longtime collaborators, who celebrated his life, legacy, and enduring friendships.
Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern honor Sam Neil
Kidman and Dern honored Neill by posing with a bottle of Two Paddocks Last Chance Pinot Noir from his vineyard in New Zealand's Central Otago region. Kidman shared the image on her Instagram Stories with a heartfelt caption.
“Raising a glass to our beloved friend and leading man, Sam,” she wrote, adding, “Just the way he would want, toasting with his gorgeous Pinot.”
Neill passed away on July 13, 2026, at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney due to pneumonia, three months after revealing he was finally cancer-free following his battle with stage III angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
Following his death, many fans chose to remember the actor by purchasing his acclaimed wine. Liquorland revealed that sales of the wine increased by 1,828%, with it moving from the chain's 423rd bestselling bottle to fifth place in the days after his passing.
Boutique wine stores also saw demand surge, with Regional Wines in Wellington selling out of its entire Two Paddocks stock on the day he died. Moore Wilson's reported selling five times its usual volume, with general manager Amanda Thompson sharing that customers planned to enjoy Neill's films alongside his Pinot Noir.
“Customers have shared plans to enjoy Sir Sam Neill’s movies with a glass of his pinot noir,” she told The Guardian, adding, “Others are stocking up the cellar, and some of the cafes and restaurants were putting up a blackboard special to celebrate his life.”
His passion for winemaking was widely recognized. He produced Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Rose under the Two Paddocks label and was known for donating bottles to charity auctions and sharing them with family and friends.
'Jurassic Park' stars pay tribute to Sam Neill
Neill's family previously announced his death through a statement shared on Instagram, describing his passing as “sudden and unexpected” while noting that he remained cancer-free.
“It is with immense sadness that the whanau (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13 July, in Sydney, Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life,” the statement read.
The family also expressed gratitude to the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital for their care and requested privacy as they dealt with the loss.
Following his death, several A-list stars paid tribute to him, including 'Jurassic Park' director Steven Spielberg.
He shared that he was saddened by the actor's passing and praised Neill's performance as Dr Alan Grant in the franchise.
“Sam was exceptionally collaborative,” he said, adding, “I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him. Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our Jurassic family and Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world.”
Dern, who played paleobotanist Dr Ellie Sattler alongside Neill's Dr Alan Grant, shared her own emotional tribute.
“Sam was my beloved lifetime friend… He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit,” she wrote. She continued, “He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr Alan Grant.”
