Leading New Zealand actor Kevin Smith has died in a Beijing hospital after he was critically injured in a fall.
His agent, Robert Bruce, confirmed that the 38-year-old actor had died.
"I received a call from Kevin's family to say that he passed away in his sleep.
"It's a shock to us all, and a major shock to the family. They're just trying to come to terms with it all."
Auckland-based Smith was injured in the Chinese capital 10 days ago and doctors treating him were concerned that he would not recover from serious injuries.
The accident occurred on February 6, the day after the actor finished work on a joint US-Chin
His ambitions to break into the American movie market were realised when he scored a role in the $US70 million ($166 million) Bruce Willis action film Man of War, due to start filming in Hawaii next month.
He had leaped at the chance to go
to China because the role allowed him to learn from the stuntman who
worked on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Our condolences to Kevin's family, friends and fans.
See you on the River.
Riverworld "Not For Hire" painting © 2002 Alan Gutierrez (used with permission)