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Live-Action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Actor David Hekili Kenui Bell Passes Away
Actor David Hekili Kenui Bell has passed away, just weeks after his big-screen debut in the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” remake.
Related – Disney’s Live Action Lilo & Stitch Ending Comes Under Fire
Jalene Kanani Bell, David’s sister, shared the news on Facebook, writing, “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. 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.”
In “Lilo & Stitch,” Bell played a man who drops his shaved ice in shock after seeing Pleakley’s alien form when Pleakley and Jumba emerge from a portal. This moment paid homage to a similar scene in the original animated film where a tourist drops his ice cream. The live-action rendition, however, faced criticism when it first appeared in trailers. Some of the backlash stemmed from the fact that Pleakley would no longer be in drag, and because Bell, being Hawaiian, arguably undermined the original film’s critique of white tourists. Despite the controversy, Bell’s brief, meme-worthy scene was well-executed.
According to his sister, Jalene Kanani Bell, David “planned ahead and purchased the best seats in the house” for his family to see the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” on its opening night in Kapolei just two weeks ago.
“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 shared. In a touching tribute, Bell’s family honored him and eased their grief by getting shaved ice, a nod to his memorable scene in the film.
“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,” Jalene Kanani Bell explained. “He was and will remain a bright and shining star.”
Bell, a member of SAG-AFTRA, also appeared in CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0” and “Magnum P.I.” His IMDb page notes an upcoming role in Amazon MGM’s “The Wrecking Crew,” which stars Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa as half-brothers investigating their father’s murder in Hawaii.
In an Instagram post, Bell revealed he pursued acting because of his father, who was an extra in the original “Hawaii Five-0.” He also shared his “Lilo & Stitch” audition video, featuring his homemade special effects, and some behind-the-scenes photos from the film’s set.
“Mahalo to all who worked on this film!” he wrote in a post about a “Lilo & Stitch” screening. “Was so awesome to see so many of the true stars in my opinion, our local crew in Hawaii. They deserve just as much or more recognition! Was also happy to see so much of the cast, especially those of us that round out the world of live-action Lilo & Stitch that the filmmakers so masterfully constructed.”
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