The world is mourning Sir Sam Neill – a Kiwi icon who's career spanned more than five decades. 

The 78-year-old died suddenly in a Sydney hospital after revealing earlier this year he was cancer-free.  

Neill has more than 150 acting credits to his name, including Jurassic Park, The Piano, and Peaky Blinders. 

Award-winning actor and director Sir Ian Mune told Mike Hosking their friendship goes back more than 50 years.  

He says Neill hated being seen to act, and that was part of the appeal – whenever someone went to see his films, they knew they were getting the truth. 

Mune told Hosking that Neill had a wicked sense of humour and never cracked a smile, so you had to really pay attention to know if he was insulting you, complimenting you, or just making a joke. 

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