Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who directed Jurassic Park, led Hollywood tributes to the New Zealand actor, describing Neill as “exceptionally collaborative” in portraying Dr Alan Grant, a character fundamentally at odds with who he was in real life.

“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,” Mr Spielberg said. "I adored making all the Jurassic movies with him.

Jurassic Park co-star Laura Dern also paid tribute to her beloved lifetime friend. “He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness and love always with the driest of wit,” she said in a statement provided to the ABC. “He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr Alan Grant.”

Pop star Kylie Minogue posted on Instagram “Vale Sam”, while Australian actress Nicole Kidman, who co-starred with Neill in 1989 film Dead Calm, said in a statement to US media outlets that “Sam was one of the greats”.

“We met when I was just 18, and he took me under his wing, and we stayed friends for life. He was charming, kind, funny and intelligent. He will be greatly missed, and my heart goes out to his family,” she said.

Those sentiments were shared by Australian music legend Jimmy Barnes, who said he “can’t believe we will no longer be eating great food together and sharing the odd glass of wine down at his winery, while laughing, singing and solving the problems of the world together”.

"Sam was a big part of our lives. He was family. He lifted our spirits when he walked into the room. Sam was everything he appeared to be on the screen.

“He sat with me while I recovered in hospital, and I sat with him when he needed me. We shared a lot in this life, and for that, I will always be thankful. Rest easy, dear Sam. You are always in our hearts.”

Richard E. Grant, who shared a three-decade friendship with Neill and starred alongside him in Australian comedy-drama Palm Beach, said the actor “guided and helped me through a difficult time in my life” and described him as “an officer and a gentleman in the truest sense”.

Australian actress Magda Szubanski, whose cancer is also in remission after a high-profile battle with the illness, said she was “absolutely devastated” by the news. “Darling Sam. I really don’t have any words right now. I’m in complete shock. Last time we spoke, he was going so well.”

Australian actress Toni Collette said: “I love you, dear Sam. You hero. You legend. You sweetheart. Our great friend. You are already missed so very much. Continue in peace wherever you are.”

The ABC’s global affairs editor, Laura Tingle, who was in a relationship with Neill for three years until 2021, posted on Instagram a slide show of images of them together with the caption: “Sweet Dreams darling Sam”.

Australian comedian Charlie Pickering, who first met Neill when the Hollywood star agreed to appear on the debut episode of his long-running comedy series The Weekly, said he was “the most down-to-earth megastar I’d ever met”.

“As a result of the interview, he named his favourite duck after me — so he had Charlie Pickering the duck. He would often send me videos of what Charlie Pickering the duck was up to,” he said.

“To talk to him was like talking to a bloke that lived across the fence from you — completely normal, completely down-to-earth and like so many New Zealanders, eminently sensible.”