Xena: Warrior Princess star Marise Wipani has died at the age of 61, it has been announced.
A statement was shared on Wipani’s Facebook page revealing the late actress and former Miss New Zealand contestant had sadly died on her 61st birthday.
“Marise passed peacefully today on her 61st birthday surrounded by family and friends,” the statement began.
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“She just wanted to say….I have shuffled off this mortal coil Good byyye, good luuuck, good God!!!”
“Quote from Driving Miss Daisy.”
Underneath, tributes flowed, with New Zealand-Australian actor Jay Laga’aia sharing a public message following news of her death.
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In his message, the actor said the pair had worked together numerous times.
”I saw this and quickly checked that it wasn’t some kind of sick joke,” he wrote underneath the announcement.
”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.”
“That is so sad. Fly high beautiful lady <3,” another commenter wrote.
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“She was always such a rockstar and incredibly funny. We lost a beautiful woman today,” another wrote in part of a tribute.
Wipani also appeared in ’90s series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Soldier Soldier and the New Zealand hospital TV series called Shortland Street, according to her imDb page.
A cause of death has not yet been revealed and funeral details have yet to be released. 
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