Beloved New Zealand actor who appeared in Lord of the Rings and Xena: Warrior Princess dies aged 85
Beloved New Zealand actor David Weatherley has died at the age of 85.
The veteran artist was born in England in 1939 and died in Auckland on Thursday after a long illness.
Weatherley appeared in many critically acclaimed productions throughout his career, including Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring and Xena: Warrior Princess.
The heartbreaking news of his death was confirmed in an obituary The New Zealand Herald.
“David captivated audiences in theatre, radio, film and television, earning international recognition,” it said.
Weatherly served in the Canadian Army in the late 1950s and began his career as an actor after moving to New Zealand in 1961.
Beloved New Zealand actor David Weatherley died earlier this month at the age of 85. (Pictured in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring)
The celebrated actor got his start in community theater before transitioning to voiceover work and then to film and television.
He worked in show business for almost fifty years, starting his career in 1975 in the New Zealand drama series The Mackenzie Affair, opposite Narnia star James Cosmo.
The actor went on to appear in some of New Zealand’s most famous productions, including Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive and Hercules: Legendary Journeys.
Weatherly also lived in Australia in the late 80s and while Down Under appeared in Home and Away and A Country Practice.
He also voiced a character in the popular 2004 video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II.
Throughout his celebrated career, Weatherley has performed alongside some of the world’s most renowned artists, including Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen and Lucy Lawless.
He also worked as a theater actor, wowing audiences across New Zealand in a series of productions including Henry V and Evita.
His latest work was a voice role in the 2019 New Zealand animated film Mosley, alongside Lucy Lawless and Temuera Morrison.
Weatherley appeared in many critically acclaimed productions throughout his career, including Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring and Xena: Warrior Princess
The heartbreaking news of his death was confirmed in an obituary in The New Zealand Herald
In recognition of his long career in show business, Weatherley received a Scroll of Honor from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand in 2016.
Weatherley is survived by his ex-wife Anita and their two children, Richard and Marion.
His passing comes just three months after the death of another beloved New Zealand artist, Glenis Levestam.
The veteran actress, who enjoyed a 40-year career in show business, died in a healthcare facility after suffering from cancer.
Her death was confirmed in an obituary on Legacy, which read: ‘Glenis died peacefully at Roseneath Lifecare on September 14.
‘Special thanks to the staff at Roseneath for their kind and dedicated care during Glen’s last few months. At Glen’s request, a private family service was held.”
Levestam began her acting career at the age of 20 in 1966 and worked consistently in New Zealand films and TV shows for four decades.
She was best known to international audiences for her performance in Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson’s iconic 1992 NZ horror comedy Braindead.
She also appeared opposite American actor Kevin Sorbo in the action TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and in the 2004 film Fracture.