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.
“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).
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.
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