Steven Spielberg Pays Heartfelt Tribute to 'Jurassic Park' Star Sam Neill: 'He Will Never Be Forgotten'

As viewers and fellow celebrities mourn the loss of Jurassic Park star Sam Neill, the film’s original director Steven Spielberg has shared his own tribute to the late film star.

In a statement shared with Variety, Spielberg said that he was personally “saddened” by the news of Neill’s passing, acknowledging just how much the actor’s work meant to Jurassic Park‘s success.

“I owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Donaldson, Gilliam Armstrong, Graham Baker and Phillip Noyce for casting Sam Neill in the roles in which he was so brilliant that brought him to my attention and led to his playing Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park,” Spielberg said.

“Sam was exceptionally collaborative,” the Jaws director continued. “It was a stretch for him to play a character who acted as though children were messy and smelly because this was the opposite of the loving father he was to his children.”

“I adored making all the Jurassicmovies with him,” Spielberg ended by saying. “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.”

News of Neill’s death at 78-years-old came early Monday, with Neill’s family sharing the tragic development on social media.

In the hours that followed, numerous friends, stars and colleagues of Neill shared their own mournful memories of Neill, calling him an talented actor and an incredible human being.

“Sam Neill was a deeply soulful and beautiful man,” Jurassic World director posted on Instagram. “He was a friend and collaborator at a challenging time, and his strength gave us all strength. I’ll remember him for his tranquility, his love of wine, and for the calm assuredness he brought to his characters. It’s not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend. Forever grateful.”