David Hekili Kenui Bell’s autopsy report has revealed new details regarding the Lilo & Stitch actor’s death.
According to an autopsy report obtained by People on Tuesday, August 19, four “pathological diagnoses” were found two months after Bell’s death. The conditions included acute respiratory failure, sepsis, hypertensive/atherosclerotic heart disease and morbid obesity.
Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection, where the infection-fighting processes can turn on the body and cause the organs to work poorly or even shut down, per the Mayo Clinic.
Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis that consists of the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls, per the Mayo Clinic. This buildup can cause arteries to narrow and block blood flow. In severe cases, the buildup can burst, leading to a blood clot. While atherosclerosis is considered a heart condition, it can affect arteries elsewhere in the body.
Gene Hackman’s primary cause of death was due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease — but what does the condition entail? Hypertensive Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease is a combination of hypertensive heart disease and arteriosclerosis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hypertensive heart disease is a long-term condition that develops over time in patients who have high blood […]
Before his death, Bell “complained of difficulty breathing,” per the outlet.
The autopsy reportedly stated that medical intervention and life-saving efforts were made on Bell. The autopsy exam found defibrillator 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 in his lower left leg. (The intraosseous technique accesses a body’s circulatory system by inserting a specialized needle directly into the bone marrow, per the National Library of Medicine.)
The report also found that Bell had stasis dermatitis and edema. Stasis dermatitis is a kind of eczema that happens when you have poor blood circulation, per the National Eczema Organization. Edema is the medical term for swelling.
A toxicology test was also done and found no evidence of drugs or alcohol in Bell’s system above reporting limits. Following the autopsy, the investigation into Bell’s death is immediately complete.
From filmmakers to artists, Hollywood lost many stars in 2025. News broke on January 4 that Aubrey Plaza’s estranged husband, Jeff Baena, died one day earlier at the age of 47. Per medical examiner records viewed by Us Weekly, Baena died by suicide. “This is an unimaginable tragedy,” Plaza’s rep said in a statement to […]
Bell’s sister, Jalene, announced in June that Bell died at the age of 46.
“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 wrote via Facebook. “I’ve been waiting for the words and mindset to properly express the joy of a human, and Prince of a Man he was, but fate pushed my hand this morning by a pre-scheduled Father’s Day newsletter honoring the men in our lives.”
Bell was best known for his role in the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie as the Shaved Ice Guy. He also made appearances on Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0.
About the Author
