Actor David Hekili Kenui Bell, who made his big screen debut in the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” remake last month, has sadly passed away.
The actor’s sister, Jalene Kanani Bell, announced the shocking news in a heartbreaking post on Facebook.
“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,” she wrote on Sunday, June 15.
“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,” the star’s sibling added.
Jalene also noted that her brother’s sudden passing came just “two short weeks” after he treated the family to a screening of the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” movie upon its release late last month.
“He was and will remain a bright and shining star,” she continued. “He recently made it on to the big screen with an iconic Lilo & Stitch moment.”
“He planned ahead and purchased the best seats in the house for us all to go together to opening night in Kapolei just two short weeks ago,” Jalene said.
Bell was credited in the “Lilo & Stitch” live-action adaptation as the character “Big Hawaiian Dude.”
The actor’s rep, Lashauna Downie, told TMZ that she only learned of Bell’s passing through social media.
She called Bell a “gentle giant” and called his passing both “heartbreaking” and “sad.”
“I am learning like you through social media,” Downie told the outlet. “This is heartbreaking & sad. He was one of my best talent & embodied the true meaning of aloha … a gentle giant.”
Bell’s cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Besides appearing in the new live-action adaptation of Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” on the big screen, Bell also had several small roles on TV shows like “Magnum P.I.” and “Hawaii Five-0.”
He starred as Manu Salani in two episodes of “Magnum P.I.” in 2018 and 2019, according to his IMDB page, as well as the character Isaac in one episode of “Hawaii Five-0” in 2014.
Bell’s shocking death comes nearly one year after fellow “Magnum P.I.” and “Hawaii Five-0” star Taylor Wily passed away.
Wily, who portrayed Kamekona Tupuola on both shows, died on June 20, 2024, at the age of 56.
“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 life, having a seltzer and doing a little genealogy,” Bell’s sister ended her touching tribute to the actor.
“Blessed by this and all the big and small moments,” she concluded. “I will keep our memories alive.”
