David Hekili Kenui Bell, a.k.a David H.K. Bell, in Disney's live-action remake of "Lilo & Stitch.". Credit : Disney

Lilo & Stitch Actor David Hekili Kenui Bell’s Death at 46: New Details Emerge in Autopsy Report

Thomas Smith
5 Min Read

David Hekili Kenui Bell’s autopsy report has been released, shedding new light on the Lilo & Stitch actor’s passing.

Obtained exclusively by PEOPLE, the report was issued by the Hawaii Police Department a little over two months after Bell died on June 12 at age 46 on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The report identifies four “pathological diagnoses”: acute respiratory failure, sepsis, hypertensive/atherosclerotic heart disease, and morbid obesity.

Atherosclerosis, as defined by The Cleveland Clinic, is the “buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls,” also known as plaque, which can “cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow” or burst, “leading to a blood clot.”

The autopsy notes that medical intervention efforts were consistent with resuscitation attempts. Exam findings included defibrillator (AED) pads on Bell’s chest, an airway in his mouth, a blood pressure cuff on his right upper arm, an IV line in his left arm, and an intraosseous needle — used “when intravenous access is delayed or unfeasible,” according to the NIH — in his left lower leg.

David Hekili Kenui Bell died on June 12 at the age of 46. David Hekili Kenui Bell/Instagram

Performed on June 19 and completed on July 10, the autopsy also found that Bell had stasis dermatitis, a skin condition caused by poor blood circulation in the legs, and edema, or swelling from fluid accumulation in the lower limbs.

A toxicology screen included with the report showed no evidence of drugs or alcohol above reporting limits. The report mentions that Bell “complained of difficulty breathing” prior to his death.

The exam, carried out at Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua, Hawaii, was listed as a “coroner’s case.” The report does not specify a cause or manner of death.

A Hawaii Police Department officer told PEOPLE that the investigation into Bell’s death has been completed. Authorities had launched a coroner’s inquest investigation following his passing, as part of standard procedure, with no foul play suspected.

A service for Bell was held on August 9 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea, according to an obituary in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

Bell made an impression on fans with his performance in the live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch”. David Hekili Kenui Bell/Facebook

Bell’s death was first shared on June 15 in a Facebook post by his sister, Jalene Kanani Bell. The news also shocked his agent, Lashauna Downie, who told PEOPLE she learned of it via social media. “I am learning like you through social media. This is heartbreaking & sad, if true,” she said. “He was one of my best talent & embodied the true meaning of aloha…a gentle giant.”

Bell made a memorable impact on audiences in the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, playing a character who drops his cup of shaved ice upon seeing an alien portal open on the beach — a comedic nod to the 2002 animated original. The film grossed over $1 billion at the global box office.

His sister paid tribute to her “little brother,” calling him a “joy of a human, and Prince of a Man.” She shared that Bell celebrated the release of Lilo & Stitch with his entire family.

“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. She recalled the excitement of seeing moviegoers dressed in Lilo & Stitch gear and the family’s outing for shave ice afterward, noting her grandson’s heartfelt reaction.

Beyond Lilo & Stitch, Bell appeared in the remakes of Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., as well as in commercials for Kona Brewing.

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