Lilo & Stitch actor David Hekili Kenui Bell has died at the age of 46, less than a month after the film’s release.
Bell passed away on June 12, though an official cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
In Lilo & Stitch, Bell played the local character who famously drops his shaved ice in shock when an alien portal opens—an homage to the original 2002 animation.
Hawai’i police confirmed the star’s death to People and have launched an inquest, as is standard procedure.
A spokesperson told the outlet: “An autopsy is being scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. The investigation is ongoing at this time. No foul play is suspected.”
His sister, Jalene Kanani Bell, paid tribute in a heartfelt post shared 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 reflected on his lifelong passion for performance, writing: “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.
“He went to Punahou and Kalani while our dad spoke Hawaiian so his ability to deliver lines with English understanding, Indigenous knowledge and Pidgen to da max…made him a diamond in the rough.”
Bell’s voice is still heard over the PA system at Kona Airport, where he worked to create what his sister called an “awesome and safe customer experience.”
“You can hear him over the PA system on arrival at Kona Airport where he loved working to create an awesome and safe customer experience. He was and will remain a bright and shining star.”
Jalene also spoke about the family's emotional outing to see Lilo & Stitch together.
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.
“To celebrate him and try to ease our grief we went to get shave ice and my grandson’s emotion was on point.”
In addition to his role on Lilo & Stitch, Bell also had credits in Magnum P.I., Hawaii Five-O, and the upcoming film The Wrecking Crew.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake has smashed box office records, surpassing Top Gun: Maverick to become the highest-grossing Memorial Day weekend release in U.S. history. The film has taken in $341 million (£252 million) globally, making it the second-biggest opening of 2025 so far—just behind A Minecraft Movie, according to Variety.
