Celebrity
Family Mourns David H.K. Bell Of ‘Lilo & Stitch’ After Sudden Death In Hawaii
Tragically, David Hekili Kenui Bell, who starred in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, died a few weeks after the film’s premiere.
The actor, 46, passed away on June 12; the cause of death has not yet been disclosed, according to TMZ.
“We have launched a coroner’s inquest investigation (as is standard practice) and an autopsy is being scheduled to determine the exact cause of death,” a police spokesperson said, PEOPLE reported. “The investigation is ongoing at this time. No foul play is suspected.”
The 46-year-old’s sister, Jalene Kanani, revealed the heartbreaking news in a long Facebook post that honoured her brother’s life and described him as her “sweet, generous, talented, funny, brilliant, and handsome” sibling.
“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,” she penned.
Jalene went on to talk about her beloved brother’s love of acting, saying, “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 “ability to deliver lines with English understanding, Indigenous knowledge, and Pidgen to da max…made him a diamond in the rough,” Kanani said after relocating to Hawaii, demonstrating the extent to which his distinct heritage influenced his skill.
She went on to discuss his part in Lilo & Stitch and how the family attended the movie’s premiere.
“We talked about and were so energized 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 said.
She concluded her tribute with a tender reminder to cherish time with loved ones: “Hug your loved ones today… our last time together after returning home from the movie was just sitting on my living room couch talking stories about life, having a seltzer, and doing a little genealogy.”
“Blessed by this and all the big and small moments, I will keep our memories alive,” she said.
According to his IMDb, Bell appeared in Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-O in addition to his work on Lilo & Stitch.
Additionally, he was supposed to feature in the post-production stage of the movie The Wrecking Crew.
Officially overtaking 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, the live-action Lilo & Stitch is now the biggest Memorial Day weekend release in American history.
Variety reports that the nostalgic revival earned an incredible $341 million worldwide, making it the second-highest opening of 2025, only surpassed by A Minecraft Movie.
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