Lilo & Stitch actor dies nearly one month after film premiere
An actor from the new Lilo & Stitch movie has died just less than a month since the premiere.
Credited on IMDB as ‘Big Hawaiian Dude’ in the Disney film, David Hekili Kenui Bell’s family confirmed his death on Sunday (15 June).
His sister Jalene shared a Facebook post calling him a ‘sweet, generous, talented, funny, brilliant and handsome’.
“I’ve been waiting for the words and mindset to properly express the joy of a human, and Prince of a Man he was, but fate pushed my hand this morning by a pre-scheduled Father’s Day newsletter honouring the men in our lives,” she wrote.
Jalene said David ‘loved being an actor’ and doing voiceovers.
“The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him and I loved that he enjoyed the arts,” she added.
Jalene recalled how just two weeks ago, he treated the family to the opening night of Lilo & Stitch in Kapolei, buying 'the best seats in the house' for them all to go together.
"That’s one trait we didn’t share, planning ahead :) We talked about and were so energised by the fans dressed in L&S gear head to toe, t-shirts, onezees, hats, mask, and the merch galore flying off the shelf as we stood in line for pop-corn," she added.
Known as the guy who comically drops his shaved ice dessert at the beach in the Disney hit, Jalene said how they had hoped to get shaved ice after watching the film to 'reenact the scene' but the store had closed.
But following his death, she explained: "To celebrate him and try to ease our grief we went to get shave ice and my grandson's emotion was on point."
His rep, Lashuana Downie, told TMZ: “I am learning like you through social media. This is heartbreaking & sad. He was one of my best talent & embodied the true meaning of aloha … a gentle giant."
David was known locally for his voice work over the P.A. system at Kona Airport in Hawaii. He also appeared in episodes of Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0.
Closing her Facebook post, Jalene continued: "Hug your loved ones today... our last time together after returning home from the movie was just sitting on my living room couch talking story about live, having a seltzer and doing a little genealogy.
"Blessed by this and all the big and small moments, i will keep our memories alive."
Topics: Disney, TV and Film
Jess Battison