Kaipo Dudoit is the hunky actor who plays David in the live-action remake of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and we have all the details you need to know about him!
The newcomer plays Lilo and Nani’s neighbor who also works with Nani and has a crush on her.
Kaipo grew up in Hawaii and grew up around music and hula dancing as his parents both worked in that field! In addition to being an actor, he’s also a licensed massage therapist, though he definitely intends on continuing to act. In a recent interview, Kaipo told MauiNow.com that he hopes to do Shakespeare next.
On acting with an alien, Kaipo said, “It just really pushed and expanded my acting skills because you have to reimagine things… it was a challenge in the sense that as an actor, you’re kind of used to reacting to other people.”
Did you know that Kaipo wasn’t actually the first choice to play David?
Keep reading to find out more…
Kahiau Machado originally had landed the role of David and his casting was announced in April 2023.
In the days following the news of Kahiau‘s casting, a controversy brewed that ultimately led to the role being recast.
It was discovered by fans on social media that Kahiau had used a racial slur while making a playlist on his public Spotify account. THR reported that Disney’s vetting process uncovered the use of the slur, which seemingly led to him being dropped from the project.
READ MORE: How Did Lilo & Nani’s Parents Die in ‘Lilo & Stitch’? Spoilers Revealed from Original Movie
