Beloved New Zealand actor David Weatherley has died aged 85.
The veteran performer was born in England in 1939 and died on Thursday in Auckland after a long illness.
Weatherley appeared in many acclaimed productions throughout her career, including The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Xena: Warrior Princess.
The heartbreaking news of his death was confirmed in an obituary in The New Zealand Herald.
“David captivated audiences in theater, radio, film and television, gaining international recognition,” it said.
Weatherly served in the Canadian Army in the late 1950s and began his acting career after moving to New Zealand in 1961.
Beloved New Zealand actor David Weatherley died earlier this month aged 85. (Pictured from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
The celebrated actor started out in community theater before turning to voice-over work and then film and television.
She worked in show business for almost fifty years, beginning her career in 1975 in the New Zealand drama series The Mackenzie Affair, opposite Narnia star James Cosmo.
The actor appeared 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 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 stage actor and captivated audiences throughout New Zealand in a variety of productions, including Henry V and Evita.
His last work was a voice role in the 2019 New Zealand animated film Mosley, alongside Lucy Lawless and Temuera Morrison.

Weatherley appeared in many acclaimed productions throughout her career, including The Lord of the Rings: The 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, in 2016 Weatherley received a Scroll of Honor from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand.
Weatherley is survived by his ex-wife Anita and their two children, Richard and Marion.
Her 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 the entertainment industry, died in a care center after suffering from cancer.
His death was confirmed in an obituary in Legacy, which wrote: ‘Glenis died peacefully at Roseneath Lifecare on September 14.
‘A special thank you to the staff at Roseneath for their kind and dedicated care during Glen’s final months. At Glen’s request, a private family service has been held.
Levestam began her acting career at age 20 in 1966 and worked steadily in New Zealand films and television shows for four decades.
She was best known to international audiences for appearing in the iconic 1992 New Zealand horror comedy Braindead, from Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson.
She also appeared alongside American actor Kevin Sorbo in the action television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and the 2004 film Fracture.