How did Pete Smith Die? 'LOTR' star, 63, battled dementia and kidney disease
'Lord of the Rings' fame Pete Smith is no more. Yes! you heard that right! Legendary actor and the creator of several super roles in the world of cinema laid down his life in the hands of destiny. The film star from New Zealand died on Saturday after a long battle with kidney disease and dementia. At the time of death, Smith was 63 and was fighting the disease for the last seven years.
This dad-of-six was best known for his prime time roles in 'Lord of the Rings', 'Once were warriors' and 'The Piano'. The role as an orc in 2003's 'Lord of Rings: The Return of the King' garnered him a huge fan base. The actor not only made noise in the western world, but also had huge fan-following in Asian countries.
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How did Pete Smith die?
Speaking to a local publication, Pete Smith's son Poumau Papali’i-Smith said; “He was sick for a long time, so it’s kind of bittersweet. 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".
Junior Smith also mentioned that he (Pete Smith) was doing dialysis for a long time but fate had something else destined for the superstar, “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 passed on Saturday. We are happy that he didn’t have to suffer any longer" Smith added.
Apart from being just an actor, Smith was a great human being too. He was a man of the people who always put people and relations in front of money and fame. Combining his love for film and gardening, Pete created and presented a local garden show, called 'Maramataka - Once Were Gardeners', drawing on the name of his first big film success.
The actor's career was kickstarted by early films and powerful dramas, which also includes a sci-fi movie 'The Quiet Earth' in 1985. Several accolades and recognitions intercepted his journey and no doubt, that his absence will definitely prove to be a tragic loss for the industry. The former actor is now survived by his children and wife, Mona Papali'i.