‘Lilo & Stitch’ live-action actor David Hekili Kenui Bell dies
‘Lilo & Stitch’ live-action actor David Hekili Kenui Bell. Image: Instagram/@hekili97; YouTube/Disney
David Hekili Kenui Bell, who recently starred as the “Big Hawaiian Dude” in the live-action adaptation of the Disney animated film “Lilo & Stitch,” has died, his family confirmed.
“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, said in a Facebook post on Monday, June 16.
Jalene paid tribute to David, speaking about how he loved being an actor. “The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him and I loved that he enjoyed the arts.”
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed to the public.
On his social media pages, David shared in May a clip from his audition as well as moments from filming the Disney movie, which starred Maia Kealoha as Lilo and Sydney Agudong as Nani Pelakai.
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“Mahalo to all who worked on this film! I knew it would be special to attend a cast and crew screening and it didn’t disappoint! Was so awesome to see so many of the true stars in my opinion, our local crew in Hawaii,” he wrote.
Aside from “Lilo & Stitch” live-action, released last May, David was also featured in the drama series “Hawaii Five-O” and “Magnum P.I.” reboot. /edv
