Manu Tupou Fatafehi

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=3281
Fiji-born actor dies
(Saturday, June 12, 2004)
FIJI-born actor Manu Tupou died in his Hollywood home on Saturday last week.

He was 69 and single at the time of his death.

He acted in the film A Man Called Horse alongside the legendary Richard Harris.

He was the son of Vilisoni Pau'u Fatafehi of the Mataqali Togalevu from Sawana Village in
Vanuabalavu, a former civil servant and ex-serviceman who saw action in the Solomons. His mother
Kalolaini Waimuana was the sister of Lusiana Qolikoro, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara's mother, former
cabinet minister and Fiji Sugar Corporation executive Ratu Viliame Dreunimisimisi's mother and top
Fijian businesswoman Mere Samisoni's mother, Mere. They were also from the same mataqali as Mr
Fatafehi. Mr Tupou also acted in the movies The Takeover, Love Affair, Hurricane, Castaway Cowboy,
Extraordinary Seaman and his debut Hawaii.

His brother Peni Fatafehi said Manu's love affair with acting was a strange twist of events.

"He was groomed by Ratu Sukuna for public service like his late cousin (Ratu Sir Kamisese) and was
destined for Oxford," Mr Fatafehi said. "Then he got off the plane for a brief stopover in New York
before heading for the next plane when he read about a vacancy for a place on a movie that needed a
dark skinned person to act as a Hawaiian prince.

"He auditioned for that movie, left his address with the company but got on the plane for London
later.
"When he arrived in London a cable arrived and he was on the next flight back to New York.

Mr Tupou acted in that movie Hawaii - a debut performance but his career almost came to end.

"The producers wanted to sack the director who hired Manu but Manu would have nothing of it.

"He told them if the director goes I go.

"Manu was then a rookie - fresh from the islands with hardly any money in his pocket and had landed
a high salary job as an actor - but he would never betray those he loved."

Mr Tupou was cremated by his Church group the Church of Scientology and have kept his ashes in an
urn. They will conduct a church service in Hollywood on June 19.

http://www.filmreference.com/film/68/Manu-Tupou.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Tupou