Pete Smith has died aged 63 following a battle with kidney disease.
The New Zealand actor who starred in major projects like Lord of the Rings, passed away on Saturday (January 29) – his son confirmed.
Pete’s son Poumau Papali’i-Smith told New Zealand’s outlet Stuff that his dad had been suffering from kidney problems for a long time, and was diagnosed with dementia.
He said: “For the last seven years, he’d been on dialysis which took its toll on him over the years. Within the last two years he was also diagnosed with dementia.
(Image: WireImage)
“We started doing dialysis at home but over the last few weeks he suffered an infection which he fought for the last four weeks.”
He added: “He passed on Saturday. We are happy that he didn’t have to suffer any longer”
Pete, who was of of Māori descent, worked on a number of hit films, including Once Were Warriors (1994), The Piano (2003), and The Quiet Earth (1985).
He also starred as an orc in Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning film The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003).
(Image: Unknown)
His other roles included Apeman in the 1999 film What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? – a sequel to Once Were Warriors.
Pete’s screen debut was The Quiet Earth, which is a Kiwi science fiction film following a survivor of an apocalyptic tragedy.
His son said his father’s death was a great loss for the Far North community, adding that he was a “bit of a man of the people” who always put others before himself.
(Image: Getty Images)
For his role in the drama TV series The Market (2005), he won a gong at the Screen Awards – for Best Performance by a Supporting Actor.
The dad-of-six is survived by his wife Mona Mona Papali’i.
As well as acting, Pete later co-created and presented a gardening show called Maramataka – Once Were Gardeners.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
