‘Lilo & Stitch’ Cast Member Dies Weeks After Film’s Release

David Hekili Jenui Bell, who portrayed a recurring character in Disney’s new live-action Lilo & Stitch remake, has died. David’s sister, Jalene, broke the news of David’s passing in a lengthy Facebook post on Sunday, calling him a “generous, funny, brilliant, and handsome little brother.”

Credit: Disney

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David portrayed a character simply credited as “Big Hawaiian Dude,” and though he had no lines, he made a critical impact in the film. The character, who was brought over from Disney’s 2002 film, continuously drops his sweet treat at the beach. However, in the original film, the character was a clumsy, sunburnt tourist. In Disney’s new version, the character is a native Hawaiian, just like David was in real life.

David’s death was very abrupt, as the world learns about his passing alongside those close to him. Leshuana Downie, a rep for David, told TMZ that they learned about his death on social media. Leshuana called David talented and “a gentle giant.”

The cause of death has not been revealed. David was known for his roles in productions like Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. and for being the voice used at the Kona Airport.

Credit: Disney

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Disney’s Lilo & Stitch was released on May 23, 2025, and is the company’s latest attempt to recapture the magic of its classic animated films in live-action form. Earlier this year, Disney released its long-awaited, highly controversial live-action take on Snow White, which performed poorly, both critically and commercially.

However, Lilo & Stitch is an entirely different case, as the film has already generated over $360 million domestically, for a total of $858 million worldwide. Lilo & Stitch has also received very positive reactions from critics and casual audiences alike. The film now sets its sights on the coveted $1 billion number, something Disney hasn’t achieved since last year’s Moana 2.

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