Lee Tamahori, the New Zealand director behind “Once Were Warriors” and the 2002 James Bond movie “Die Another Day,” has died. He was 75.
The late filmmaker’s family confirmed his death in a statement to Radio New Zealand. They revealed he passed away peacefully at home while surrounded by his loved ones on Friday, Nov. 7.
Although no cause of death was given, Tamahori had announced that he was battling Parkinson’s disease during an appearance on “Te Ao With Moana” back in May.
“His legacy endures with his whānau, his mokopuna, every filmmaker he inspired, every boundary he broke, and every story he told with his genius eye and honest heart,” the director’s family said. “A charismatic leader and fierce creative spirit, Lee championed Māori talent both on and off screen.”
“He ultimately returned home to tell stories grounded in whakapapa and identity, with Mahana and his latest film ‘The Convert,’ reaffirming his deep connection to Aotearoa,” they added. “We’ve lost an immense creative spirit.”
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1950, Tamahori directed his first feature film, “Once Were Warriors,” in 1994.
The crime drama followed a Māori family in South Auckland and was based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Alan Duff.
Starring future “Star Wars” stars Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison, the film received positive reviews from critics and became the highest-grossing film of all time in New Zealand.
However, it wasn’t until two years later that Tamahori moved to Hollywood to direct his second feature film, “Mulholland Falls,” starring Nick Nolte, Jennifer Connelly and John Malkovich.
After directing the Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin survival thriller “The Edge” in 1997, followed by the Morgan Freeman thriller “Along Came a Spider” in 2001, Tamahori was chosen to helm the 007 film “Die Another Day.”
Starring Pierce Brosnan in his fourth and final outing as James Bond, and co-starring Halle Berry, Judi Dench, Rosamund Pike and Madonna, the film became Tamahori’s biggest box office success with more than $430 million worldwide.
“I’ve had many Bond fans come up to me and tell me they love it,” Tamahori said during a 2022 interview. “I’m never quite sure if they’re saying that just to make me feel good, but they generally seem very honest and sincere at the time.”
“I’m very pleased to hear that anyway,” the filmmaker added. “I think it’ll stand the test of time.”
Following the success of “Die Another Day,” Tamahori went on to helm 2005’s “XXX: State of the Union,” 2007’s “Next” and 2011’s “The Devil’s Double.”
He returned to his native New Zealand in 2016 for “The Patriarch” before ending his career in 2023 with the Guy Pearce historical drama “The Convert.”
As for TV, Tamahori directed a Season 2 episode of the hit HBO show “The Sopranos” in 2000 and an episode of the Showtime series “Billions” in 2020.
“That’s what I did in my youth, sneaked into every movie I wasn’t allowed to see, and that’s how I became a filmmaker,” the filmmaker said in an interview three years before his death.
Tamahori is survived by his partner Justine and his children Sam, Max, Meka, and Tané.
A memorial service will be held for the legendary filmmaker at Te Mahurehure Marae in Point Chevalier, Auckland, on Sunday.
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