The legendary actor, Sam Neill, has sadly passed away at the age of 78. Known to science fiction and fantasy fans as Dr. Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, the horror cult classic Event Horizon, and as the wizard Merlin, Neill’s talent was boundless. And, if you’re looking to take a deep dive into the incredible career of Neill, you could of course, watch any of those famous films or even his lesser-known WWII drama, The Blood of Others. But, among the oeuvre of Sam Neill, the most blood-pumping role of all is his underrated and excellent turn as a historical James Bond-like figure named Sidney Reilly, in the 1983 miniseries Reilly, Ace of Spies. With episodes directed by future James Bond helmer Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, Casino Royale), the historical spy action of Ace of Spies is well-paced, with touches of Indiana Jones blended with a legit spy story.
And if you ever wonder why Sam Neill looked so natural in that hat in Jurassic Park, seeing him rock a fedora in Ace of Spies will make everything clear.
