At the time of his death, Tamahori had completed the Adrien Brody-led Emperor, which is in postproduction and slated for a 2026 release. Photo: TNS
Die Another Day director Lee Tamahori has died over three decades after he broke through with the acclaimed Maori crime drama Once Were Warriors. He was 75.
The New Zealander suffered from Parkinson’s disease and died at home surrounded by loved ones, including “long-time love Justine,” his four “beloved children” and daughter-in-laws, and his grandchild, his family confirmed in a statement to Radio New Zealand.
“His legacy endures with his whanau, his mokoupna, every filmmaker he inspired, every boundary he broke, and every story he told with his genius eye and honest heart,” read the statement. “A charismatic leader and fierce creative spirit, Lee championed Māori talent both on and off screen.”
Tamahori first stepped behind the camera for his 1989 short film Thunderbox before directing three episodes of The Ray Bradbury Theater in the early 1990s.
Once Were Warriors premiered at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, after which Tamahori directed Mulholland Falls, starring Nick Nolte and Melanie Griffith, as well as the David Mamet-penned The Edge, starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin.
Tamahori helmed a 2000 episode of The Sopranos, season 2’s Toodle-F–ing-Oo.
His action streak ran through much of the 2000s, with the Morgan Freeman-led Along Came A Spider, as well as Die Another Day – Pierce Brosnan’s fourth and final turn as James Bond. Tamahori also directed xXx: State Of The Union and Next, starring Nicolas Cage.
His last small-screen directorial effort was a 2020 episode of Billions. As for features, he last release was 2023’s The Convert,” a period piece about a war between Maori tribes.
At the time of his death, Tamahori had completed the Adrien Brody-led Emperor, which is in postproduction and slated for a 2026 release.
Representatives for Tamahori and his company did not immediately respond to the Daily News’ request for comment. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
