Former Lotto co-host and actor Marise Wipani has died.
The former Miss New Zealand runner-up and actor on classic Kiwi film Came a Hot Friday died on her 61st birthday, according to a post on her Facebook page.
She died “peacefully today … surrounded by family and friends”, the message posted last night said.
“She just wanted to say .... ‘I have shuffled off this mortal coil’.
“Good byyye, good luuuck, good God!!!”, they wrote of her final message quoting lines from the movie Driving Miss Daisy.
Wipani, who co-hosted Lotto alongside Doug Harvey as well as appearing in episodes of shows such as Shortland Street, Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, was remembered affectionately by friends and former colleagues.
“I saw this and quickly checked that it wasn’t some kind of sick joke,” wrote Kiwi actor Jay Laga’aia in comments below the post.
Laga’aia and Wipani appeared in the hit British army drama Soldier, Soldier.
“Sister I am devastated to hear this news. You are so young and I will miss you. We have worked together over the years and I was always so pleased to have you on set.
“Travel well my sister, love you always.”
Ian Mune, who directed Wipani on Came a Hot Friday alongside Billy T. James, Marshall Napier and a swag of other Kiwi actors, posted of his heartbreak at the news.
“Marise, this breaks my heart. We met on your first film role in Came a Hot Friday. Your presence and performance added a whole layer to that movie arising from your truth and honesty.
“It was what always struck me whenever we met. Fly high, Princess.”
The role in the hit comedy was Wipani’s screen debut and came after she was runner-up in the Miss New Zealand pageant to Lorraine Downes, who would go on to win Miss Universe 1983.
Wipani had been invited to the national beauty pageant after its producer spotted the-then 17-year-old in a Ponsonby photographic studio.
“Why would I want to do that?” she’d said, recalling her response in a 2011 Herald interview on Kiwis who’d narrowly missed out on fame.
However, she agreed immediately after being told she’d get to go to Christchurch and be paid.
Christchurch was a “blast”, and she enjoyed the company of – and learning the trade of beauty pageantry – the other women.
But winning “never really occurred to me” and she found some parts – such as the swimsuit parade – “really naff”.
“I can remember standing there thinking, ‘I wish I had a dressing gown or a jersey and I’d really like to be wearing pants’. I mean it was pretty chilly up there,” she said in 2011.
Beating Downes – and therefore potentially being the international champion – would’ve been her worst nightmare, Wipani said.
“I dodged a bullet ... it’s just not my cup of tea.”
She later watched a teary Downes being crowned Miss Universe in the US.
“I was crying too, and clapping, and jumping up and down ... she really deserved it, she’s a class act.”
After years as the country’s “Lotto Lady” and jobs here and abroad in TV, film and theatre, Wipani was in 2011 appearing in various productions while also working in a cafe.
“I wish I was rich and I wish I’d listened when people told me to save my money. But I was like, ‘yeah, yeah, yeah’ and then didn’t do anything ... it’s been fun.”