Marise Wipani, who starred in the 90s drama Soldier Soldier and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, has died.
The actress died on Friday, which was her 61st birthday, it has been confirmed.
‘Marise passed peacefully today on her 61st birthday surrounded by family and friends,’ a post on her Facebook page read.
‘She just wanted to say….I have shuffled off this mortal coil. Good byyye, good luuuck, good God!!! Quote from Driving Miss Daisy.’
Her cause of death has not been revealed.
As well as Soldier Soldier, which ran for 82 episodes from 1991 to 1997, the TV star was known for her appearances in Shortland Street, Xena: Warrior Princess, Street Legal, and Rude Awakenings.
In addition to TV, she appeared in several movies, including Came a Hot Friday (1985), Mark II (1986), Grievous Bodily Harm (1988), Bonjour Timothy (1995), and Channelling Baby (1999).
Wipani was also a runner-up in the Miss New Zealand contest in the 80s, having been scouted at a photography studio and invited to join.
She finished second behind Lorraine Downes, who later won Miss Universe 1983.
Then, in 1987, she became one of the first presenters of the live televised draw for Lotto New Zealand.
In her later years, after retreating from larger roles, she appeared in smaller-scale productions.
She also had an ordinary job in a café in the 2010s and was ‘living modestly’.
Speaking in 2011 after years of working in NZ and abroad, she joked: ‘I wish I was rich and I wish I’d listened when people told me to save my money.
‘But I was like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” and then didn’t do anything … it’s been fun.’
Following the sad news of her death, tributes have flooded in for the beloved star.
‘I never knew Marise Wipani was runner-up to Lorraine Downes in Miss New Zealand. That makes her the second best looking woman in the Universe! RIP gorgeous. 61 is way too young’, wrote @SonofOmahu on X.
‘She was such a strong personality’, added @KiffinEileen.
Over on her Facebook post, Angela Taylor commented: ‘Devastated to hear this. She was always such a rock star and incredibly funny. We lost a beautiful woman today.’
‘I saw this and quickly checked that it wasn’t some kind of sick joke’, added New Zealand-Australian actor and singer Jay Laga’aia.
He continued: ‘Sister I am devastated to hear this news. You are so young and I will miss you. We have worked together over the years and I was always so pleased to have you on set.’
‘Rest easy lovely. Thank you for some great times in the 80’s. So many laughs. Xx’, Rhonda Thomson also commented.
Ian Mune, who directed Came a Hot Friday, also expressed his heartbreak as he reminisced on their work together.
‘Marise, this breaks my heart. We met on your first film role in Came a Hot Friday. Your presence and performance added a whole layer to that movie arising from your truth and honesty,’ he said.
‘It was what always struck me whenever we met. Fly high, Princess.’
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