After a long, courageous battle with cancer, beloved Kiwi comedian Dai Henwood has passed away, aged 48.
He revealed in a 2023 interview on The Project that he had been diagnosed with metastatic bowel cancer back in 2020. In a 2024 interview with Woman’s Day, he shared how he broke the news of his incurable cancer diagnosis to friends and family, saying, “Dad’s had a bit of bad medical news. He’s got to get scanned and have a few operations.”
“I’ve got cancer. My body has mutated a bit and things are growing where they shouldn’t be growing. I need to shrink those things with chemotherapy or get them removed with surgery. I’m going to be doing chemo every second week. It’s going to suck, but we’ll still be able to go on walks, catch Pokémon and that sort of thing.”
Today in an Instagram post his management shared, “It is with a deep sadness that we share the news that Dai Henwood ONZM passed away today. After valiantly living with colon cancer for the past six years, Dai died holding the hands of his family in Auckland Hospital on the morning of Tuesday 10th November 2026. The son of actor Ray Henwood ONZM, Dai is survived by his beloved wife Jo, his darling children Charlie & Lucy, and his devoted mother Dame Carolyn Henwood.”
“After decades of entertaining us on both stage and screen, he then shared his vulnerability during his cancer diagnosis. He truly brought people together, radiating positivity and a magnetic charm that pull strangers and friends into his orbit. Dai’s contributions to comedy, various charities, and the general positive vibes of Aotearoa will leave an indelible mark. He made so many people proud. Nothing made Dai happier than making people laugh, and he shared that gift of his his whole life.”
“Dai will be dearly missed by his whānau, his friends, and those who saw him entertain a nation. We were lucky to have him in our lives, and we will hold his memory dearly in our hearts.”
