His sister, Jalene Kanani Bell, confirmed the news in a Facebook post on Sunday. No cause of death was provided.
Bell played the role of “Big Hawaiian Dude” in Lilo & Stitch, which premiered in May 2025. According to his sister, Bell had bought opening night tickets for his family in Kapolei just two weeks before his passing.
Bell also appeared in several Hawaii-based TV series, including Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0. He played Manu Salani in two episodes of Magnum P.I. between 2018 and 2019 and portrayed Isaac in a 2014 episode of Hawaii Five-0, as noted on his IMDb page.
Beyond acting, Bell was known in the community for his voice work over the public address system at Kona Airport and as a brand ambassador for Kona Brewing Company.
His agent, Lashauna Downie, told TMZ she learned about his death through social media and described Bell as a “gentle giant” who embodied the spirit of aloha.
Jalene Bell highlighted his linguistic talents, noting his fluency in English, Hawaiian, and Hawaiian Pidgin. She also shared a personal memory of meeting Bell for the first time on her high school graduation day, calling him “a diamond in the rough” and a source of unconditional love.
Bell’s passing marks a tragic loss for both the Hawaiian community and fans of Disney’s beloved remake.