Alec Baldwin slammed as tribute to Sam Neill turns into own Hollywood story

Alec Baldwin has come under fire after sharing a video tribute following the death of fellow actor Sam Neill, with many viewers arguing the message focused far more on Baldwin's own career than on the late Jurassic Park star.

The nearly three minute Instagram video was posted on July 13 after news of Neill's death. Baldwin and Neill worked together in The Hunt for Red October, released in 1990, and the actor began his message by expressing sadness over losing his former co star.

"I just wanted to come on here quickly and say how stricken I was to learn of the death of Sam Neill," Baldwin said before reflecting on making The Hunt for Red October, which he described as one of his first major film roles after appearing in Working Girl and Beetlejuice.

However, much of the tribute quickly shifted away from Neill. Baldwin spent most of the video discussing his own memories from the production, praising director John McTiernan, recalling his excitement at meeting author Tom Clancy and listing numerous members of the film's cast, including Sean Connery, Tim Curry, James Earl Jones, Courtney B Vance and Stellan Skarsgård.

The approach prompted a wave of criticism across social media, where many viewers felt the tribute became a reflection on Baldwin's career instead of a remembrance of Neill. Several online comments described the video as self centred, with some calling it "narcissistic" and questioning why so little of the message focused directly on the actor being honoured.

Others defended Baldwin, suggesting the video reflected someone reminiscing about an important period of his life after learning of a colleague's passing. Some argued that remembering shared experiences can be a natural way of processing grief, particularly when those memories are tied to a significant professional milestone.

Near the end of the video, Baldwin returned to speaking about Neill, saying he remained a fan of the performances delivered by the cast rather than his own work. He concluded by offering his condolences, saying, "My love to his family."

The renewed attention surrounding Baldwin's tribute comes as fans and colleagues across the entertainment industry continue mourning Neill, whose career stretched across decades in film and television. Although he became internationally recognised for playing Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, Neill also earned acclaim for performances in The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Peaky Blinders and numerous other productions.