New details have emerged about the death of “Lilo & Stitch” star David Hekili Kenui Bell.
The actor passed away on June 12 on Hawaii Island at the age of 46, prompting an investigation from the Hawaii Police Department that has since reportedly closed, as an autopsy report obtained Tuesday by People confirmed numerous pre-existing conditions.
The autopsy was performed one week after Bell died and was officially completed in July. The report listed four “pathological diagnoses” — namely, acute respiratory failure, hypertensive and atherosclerotic heart disease, sepsis, and morbid obesity.
It stated Bell “complained of difficulty breathing” before he died, according to People.
The report further identified stasis dermatitis, a skin condition affecting the legs due to poor circulation, and edema, or swelling caused by accumulated fluid in the lower extremities. A toxicology screen showed no notable traces of drugs or alcohol in his system.
While the autopsy does not list a cause or manner of death, atherosclerosis alone can be fatal. The buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances can form plaque and block arterial blood flow, burst and lead to a blood clot, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The autopsy also confirmed professional medical intervention efforts, including attempted resuscitation, and that Bell still had defibrillator pads on his chest, an airway in his mouth, a blood pressure cuff on his arm and an IV line in his leg while he was being examined.
Bell started his professional acting career with a small role in 2014 on the television series “Hawaii Five-0.” He later landed a two-episode part on “Magnum P.I.,” but truly hit it big after being cast in the live-action remake of Disney’s 2002 animated movie, “Lilo & Stitch.”
The 2025 blockbuster hit theaters in May and grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.
MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/Getty Images
The film centers on the unlikely friendship between Lilo, a Hawaiian girl from a broken family, and Stitch, a fuzzy little alien that crash-landed on her island. Bell, whose character witnesses Stitch’s arrival, was apparently over the moon about his major movie debut.
The actor’s death was first announced in a Facebook post by his sister, Jalene Kanani Bell.
“He recently made it to the big screen with an iconic Lilo & Stitch momment [sic]. 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 on June 15.
“Hug your loved ones today…our last time together after returning home from the movie was just [us] sitting on my living room couch talking,” Jalene added at the time, concluding: “Blessed by this and all the big and small moments, I will keep our memories alive.”
