‘Shallow Hal’ actor Joshua Shintani dies, aged 32

Hawaiian actor played ukulele-strumming character Li'iBoy in the Farrelly Brothers' 2001 comedy film

Shallow Hal actor Joshua Shintani has died at the age of 32.

Shintani, who lived on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, was cast in the Farrelly Brothers’ 2001 comedy film after Peter Farrelly spotted him playing the ukulele outside a library on the island while he was holiday. After flying to Los Angeles for a screen test, Shintani landed the small but memorable role of Li’iBoy.

In the film starring Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow, Shintani’s character is seen playing the song ‘Never Forget Where I’m From’ on his ukulele while sitting next to Jason Alexander’s character Mauricio Wilson on a bench.

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Shintani’s mother told TMZ that her son had been diagnosed with an advanced case of pneumonia last week and died on Kauai on Wednesday (November 25).

In a statement, the Farrelly Brothers said Shintani “had a soul that glowed like a lighthouse,” adding: “We feel honoured to have known him.”

Though Shallow Hal would remain Shintani’s sole film role, it brought him lasting celebrity on his home island, where locals often referred to him as Li’iBoy after his character in the movie.

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