'Lilo & Stitch' Actor Dead Weeks After Film's Debut
On May 23, the live action Lilo & Stitch film made its debut in theaters to strong reviews and an even stronger box office numbers, hauling in $146 million in its first weekend domestically.
Just a month later, though, the Lilo & Stitch family lost a beloved member when actor David Hekili Kenui Bell passed away. "It is with a heavy heart I share that my sweet, generous, talented, funny, brilliant and handsome little brother David H. K. Bell will spend today in the company of our Heavenly Father," his sister Jalene Kanani Bell wrote Sunday.
"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 honoring the men in our lives."
One of Bell's final posts on social media showed photos from the Lilo & Stitch set on Instagram, as well as a clip from his audition. He played a character named Big Hawaiian Dude who comedically drops his shaved ice dessert at the sight of an alien portal.
"My audition had some special effects ???? I'm pretty sure that's what did it ???????? Also some random stuff ????," he said in the caption of the post, which came two weeks before his death.
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The Screen Actors Guild member also played a character named Isaac in Hawaii Five-0 Season 5, Episode 4 and Manu Saluni in Magnum P.I. Season 1.
"David loved being an actor, doing voiceovers, spending time with Brutus traveling as an ambassador for Kona Brew. The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him and I loved that he enjoyed the arts," his sister added in her tribute post.
"He went to Punahou and Kalani while our dad spoke Hawaiian so his ability to deliver lines with English understanding, Indigenous knowledge and Pidgen to da Max…made him a diamond in the rough. You can hear him over the PA system on arrival at Kona Airport where he loved working to create an awesome and safe customer experience."
A cause of death has not been announced.