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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Actor David Hekili Kenui Bell, who appeared in movie Lilo & Stitch, dies at 46
Actor David Hekili Kenui Bell appeared in two scenes of the Lilo & Stitch (2025) live-action remake. PHOTO: DISNEYSTUDIOS/INSTAGRAM NEW YORK - In Disney's latest live-action remake Lilo & Stitch (2025), David Hekili Kenui Bell has a short but memorable role in which he is so bewildered to see aliens that he lets his shaved ice plop to the ground. The appearance was the Hawaiian actor's first in a feature film. Bell, who had played minor roles in a few productions, died on June 12. He was 46. His sister, Jalene Bell, confirmed his death on social media on June 15 and in a family statement that did not provide a cause of death. He was credited simply as Big Hawaiian Dude on his IMDb page, but on TikTok he referred to himself as the Shave Ice Guy. Lilo & Stitch, which is based on the 2002 animated film of the same name, opened in cinemas in May and became one of the most profitable recent films as it raked in more than US$800 million (S$1 billion) in box office sales. Bell's role was part of a running gag in the franchise. In those moments, a sunburned character who is relaxing somewhere drops his ice cream when the aliens arrive. In one of two movie scenes where he appeared, the aliens startle him while he sits at the beach in a sleeveless shirt, with a towel on one shoulder and sunglasses atop his head. Predictably, he drops his shaved ice. 'These damn aliens owe me a shave ice,' he captioned the scene on TikTok. In the original Lilo & Stitch, the man dropping the ice cream is bald and is often not wearing a shirt. Bell had also appeared in two episodes of a Magnum P.I. (2018 to 2024) action series remake in 2018 and 2019, as well as in one episode of a Hawaii Five-0 (2010 to 2020) cop drama remake in 2014, according to IMDb. He was also involved in the upcoming action comedy film The Wrecking Crew, about two half-brothers (Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista) solving their father's murder in Hawaii, his page on the site said. Bell appeared in the One Life, Right? commercials for the Kona Brewing Company. The ads won a 2025 Pele Award, according to his sister and the organisation's website. The Pele Awards honour excellence in advertising and design in Hawaii. Outside of acting, Bell worked at the Kona International Airport near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, according to the social media statement from his sister. To celebrate her brother's life and express their grief, she said that she and her grandson went to get shaved ice. 'David loved being an actor', doing voice-overs and travelling as part of his work, she added. 'The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him.' NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Lilo & Stitch' actor David H.K. Bell's death under investigation, no foul play suspected
David Hekili Kenui Bell's death is under investigation after the 'Lilo & Stitch' actor passed away in Hawaii earlier this month at the age of 46. Although the Disney actor's sister announced the news of Bell's death over the weekend, the Hawaii Police Department revealed that he passed away on June 12 at approximately 2:26 p.m. local time. The department also confirmed that they have launched an investigation to determine how the 'Hawaii Five-0' and 'Magnum P.I.' actor died. 6 David Hekili Kenui Bell's death is under investigation after the 'Lilo & Stitch' actor passed away in Hawaii earlier this month. hekili97/Instagram 6 An autopsy has also been scheduled to determine the Disney actor's exact cause of death. hekili97/Instagram '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 told People on Monday. 'The investigation is ongoing at this time,' they added. 'No foul play is suspected.' Jalene Kanani Bell, the live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' star's sister, was the first to announce that her brother had passed away in an emotional Facebook post shared on Sunday, June 15. 6 '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 spokesperson for the Hawaii Police Department said Monday. 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. '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,' Jalene added. Bell's sudden passing came just weeks after he made his big-screen debut in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake, which premiered on May 23. The media giant paid tribute to the actor in a touching Instagram post on Tuesday afternoon. 6 The Hawaii Police Department also said that no foul play is suspected in Bell's death. hekili97/Instagram 'We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of David Hekili Kenui Bell,' Disney Studios wrote alongside a picture of Bell from the movie. 'Kind, caring, and a friend to all on set,' the company added, 'he will forever be a member of the Disney and Lilo & Stitch family.' Lashauna Downie, Bell's rep, also paid tribute to the beloved actor following the surprising news of his heartbreaking death. 6 Bell as 'Big Hawaiian Dude' in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake. Disney 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of David H. K. Bell — an extraordinary talent and a deeply cherished member of our BLISS ʻOhana (family),' she told The Post in a statement Tuesday. 'David brought light, kindness, and a beautiful spirit to all who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be profoundly missed by everyone whose lives he touched,' Downie continued. 'We extend our deepest sympathies to his ʻohana during this incredibly difficult time and are honoring their privacy as they grieve.' 'Rest in love, dear David. Your legacy and aloha spirit will live on in the hearts of all of us,' she concluded. 'A hui hou — until we meet again.' 6 Bell's sister, Jalene, announced his passing in a Facebook post shared on Sunday, June 15. Facebook Besides starring as 'Big Hawaiian Dude' in Disney's latest live-action remake, Bell also appeared as Manu Salani in two episodes of 'Magnum P.I.' in 2018 and 2019, as well as the character Isaac in one episode of 'Hawaii Five-0' in 2014. 'David loved being an actor, doing voiceovers,' his sister wrote in her tribute to Bell over the weekend. 'The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him and I loved that he enjoyed the arts.' '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,' Jalene added. 'Blessed by this and all the big and small moments,' she concluded. 'I will keep our memories alive.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David H.K. Bell, actor in 'Lilo & Stitch' remake, dies at 46
June 17 (UPI) -- David Hekili Kenui Bell, an actor who recently appeared in the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, has died. He was 46 years old. His death was announced on Facebook by his sister, Jalene Kanani Bell. A cause of death has not yet been shared but Hawai'i police do not suspect foul play, People reports. "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," Jalene Bell wrote on Facebook on Sunday. She went on to describe her brother as a "joy of a human, and Prince of a Man" who gave everyone in the family "unconditional love." "David loved being an actor, doing voice overs... The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him and I loved that he enjoyed the arts," she said. "...He recently made it on to the big screen with an iconic Lilo & Stitch moment." She added that her brother had gotten "the best seats in the house" to watch the film in Kapolei. Bell's IMDb profile indicates he also appeared in Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. Lashauna Downie, whose management company, Bliss Models and Talent, represented Bell, described the actor as "a gentle giant with lots of aloha" in a tribute on Instagram.
UPI
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
David H.K. Bell, actor in 'Lilo & Stitch' remake, dies at 46
June 17 (UPI) -- David Hekili Kenui Bell, an actor who recently appeared in the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, has died. He was 46 years old. His death was announced on Facebook by his sister, Jalene Kanani Bell. A cause of death has not yet been shared but Hawai'i police do not suspect foul play, People reports. "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," Jalene Bell wrote on Facebook on Sunday. She went on to describe her brother as a "joy of a human, and Prince of a Man" who gave everyone in the family "unconditional love." "David loved being an actor, doing voice overs... The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him and I loved that he enjoyed the arts," she said. "...He recently made it on to the big screen with an iconic Lilo & Stitch moment." She added that her brother had gotten "the best seats in the house" to watch the film in Kapolei. Bell's IMDb profile indicates he also appeared in Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. Lashauna Downie, whose management company, Bliss Models and Talent, represented Bell, described the actor as "a gentle giant with lots of aloha" in a tribute on Instagram. Notable deaths of 2025 Brian Wilson Beach Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson (L) and his wife Melinda Ledbetter attend the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on January 10, 2016. The Grammy-winning musician died at the age of 82 on June 11. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
'Lilo & Stitch' actor David Hekili Kenui Bell dies at 46
"Lilo & Stitch" actor David Hekili Kenui Bell has died, according to a Facebook post from his sister Jalene Kanani Bell. Bell was 46 years old. "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," Jalene Kanani Bell wrote in the post, which was shared 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." The Hawai'i Police Department confirmed in a statement to People on Monday that Bell died June 12. "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, according to People. "The investigation is ongoing at this time. No foul play is suspected." Bell's representative Lashauna Downie also told People in a statement, "I am learning like you through social media. This is heartbreaking & sad, if true." "He was one of my best talent & embodied the true meaning of aloha…a gentle giant," Downie added. Bell most recently appeared as "Big Hawaiian Dude" in the new live-action "Lilo & Stitch" movie, where he made a lasting impression as the man holding a shave ice near the end of the movie trailer. He was also a guest on the shows "Hawaii Five-0" and "Magnum P.I." "David loved being an actor, doing voiceovers," his sister wrote in her Facebook post Sunday, adding, "The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him and I loved that he enjoyed the arts." Describing him as "a diamond in the rough" and "a bright and shining star," she said her brother "recently made it on to the big screen with an iconic Lilo & Stich [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," she wrote. "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." "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," she added. "Blessed by this and all the big and small moments, I will keep our memories alive."
