New Zealand filmmaker Lee Tamahori, best known for directing Once Were Warriors and the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day, has died at age 75.
His family confirmed to Radio New Zealand that Tamahori passed away peacefully at home on Friday, Nov. 7, surrounded by loved ones. No cause of death was given, though he had revealed earlier this year that he was battling Parkinson’s disease.
“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,” his family said in a statement, calling him “a charismatic leader and fierce creative spirit” who championed Māori talent both on and off screen.
Born in Wellington in 1950, Tamahori made his directorial debut with Once Were Warriors (1994), the acclaimed cr1me drama about a Māori family in South Auckland. Starring Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison, the film became New Zealand’s highest-grossing release at the time and is still regarded as a landmark in the country’s cinema.
After moving to Hollywood, Tamahori directed Mulholland Falls (1996), The Edge (1997), and Along Came a Spider (2001). His biggest commercial success came with Die Another Day, starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry, which earned over $430 million worldwide.
Tamahori later directed XXX: State of the Union (2005), Next (2007), and The Devil’s Double (2011), before returning home for The Patriarch (2016) and his final film, The Convert (2023), starring Guy Pearce. His television credits included The Sopranos and Billions.
Reflecting on his career in 2022, Tamahori said, “I’ve had many Bond fans come up to me and tell me they love it… I think it’ll stand the test of time.”
He is survived by his partner, Justine, and children Sam, Max, Meka, and Tané. A memorial service will be held Sunday at Te Mahurehure Marae in Auckland.
