‘Lilo & Stitch’ Live-Action Star David Hekili Kenui Bell Passes Away

David Hekili Kenui Bell, one of the newest faces in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, has sadly passed away, as confirmed by his family. He recently appeared in the film as the “Big Hawaiian Dude,” a role that showcased his love for acting and his pride in representing local talent on screen.

His sister, Jalene Kanani Bell, shared the heartbreaking news through a heartfelt Facebook post, describing her brother as sweet, generous, funny and brilliant. She reminisced about how much David enjoyed working in the entertainment industry, especially being part of projects filmed in Hawaii.

Though the family has not shared the cause of his passing, his memories and work live on. Just last May, David posted clips from his audition and behind-the-scenes moments while shooting Lilo & Stitch, which featured Maia Kealoha as Lilo and Sydney Agudong as Nani Pelakai.

In his posts, David expressed gratitude to the local crew in Hawaii who made the film possible. He called them the real stars, showing how much he valued the people working behind the camera as much as those in front of it.

Besides his recent Disney role, David also appeared in popular TV shows like Hawaii Five-O and the reboot of Magnum P.I., adding to the list of productions that benefitted from his talent and warm spirit.

Fans and fellow islanders will surely remember David for his passion and the pride he brought to every scene he was part of.