Soldier Soldier star Marise Wipani has died at the age of 61 on her birthday.

The actress portrayed Ellie in the third season of the British ITV series and also featured in television shows including Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules, and Shortland Street.

She passed away on Friday, her 61st birthday, with her death being confirmed with a post on her Facebook page. A cause of death was not revealed.

It read: ‘Marise passed peacefully today on her 61st birthday surrounded by family and friends.

‘She just wanted to say….I have shuffled off this mortal coil. Good byyye, good luuuck, good God!!! Quote from Driving Miss Daisy.’

Jay Laga’aia, her co-star from Soldier Soldier, was quick to pay his respects with a heartfelt tribute, expressing his disbelief at the news and hoped it wasn’t a cruel prank.

Soldier Soldier star Marise Wipani has died at the age of 61 on her birthday

In addition to playing Ellie in the British ITV series, she appeared in other popular TV shows such as Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules, and Shortland Street (pictured in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys from 1995).

She passed away on Friday, her 61st birthday, with her death being confirmed with a post on her Facebook page. A cause of death was not revealed

‘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’.

While, Ian Mune, who directed the actress in Came a Hot Friday, also penned a touching tribute, writing: ‘‘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.’ 

Dean Adams shared several tributes, writing: ‘You are one of the strongest people I’ve known and you did things your way. A huge loss to the world, I love you and always have. 

‘You said I was the one that got away well the same was for me. Thank you for the times over the years and especially since last year. Rest in peace my sweet. Love you forever.’

Several of Marise’s friends also took to the comments to voice their heartbreak and reminisce on memories they’d shared with her.

They wrote: ‘I am just flawed by this. Marise was the most terrific person to be around and a very good friend to me in the early 90’s. Like so many people, although friends on FB we’d lost touch in recent years. She was the loveliest of people and my heart goes out to her friends and family.’

‘Awwwe, Marise, how could you?! So bright, so honest, so lovely, too young. One of our truest actors & a good friend… will miss you, Ms Wipani’. 

‘Rest easy lovely. Thank you for some great times in the 80’s. So many laughs. Xx’; ‘Oh so sorry to hear this. Marise was such a a talent to work with and a lovely person.’

Marise’ Soldier Soldier co-star Jay Laga’aia was one of the first to pay tribute, writing a heartfelt message to her

Dean Adams shared several tributes, writing: ‘You are one of the strongest people I’ve known and you did things your way. A huge loss to the world, I love you and always have’

In 1987, the star then became one of the first presenters of the live televised draw for Lotto New Zealand with Doug Harvey, earning her the affectionate nickname of the Lotto Lady (seen)

‘So sad. Remembering our friendship first as third formers at Avondale College and then later our paths crossed again when you lived on the island. Rest in Peace e hoa ❤️’.

‘Deciding to leave on your birthday is SO you, Marise! Such sad news to receive today. Your humour, kindness, friendship and immense talent will never be forgotten. Fly high. See you on the other side. xx’

‘Oh, you beautiful thing I’m so sorry we never connected back in February when you reached out for a catchup. Been thinking about you heaps lately. Love you so much and will see you again some day.’

‘Feeling really sad. I went to high school with Marise and she was always so warm and positive. We were all so proud of her when she got her big break on Telly.’

Marise was one of five siblings and grew up in Ponsonby, before moving to Christchurch at 18.

She moved after being spotted by a producer for the Miss New Zealand pageant, who encouraged her to participate in the 1983 competition.

She ultimately placed runner-up to her pal Lorraine Downes, who eventually went on to be crowed the 1983 Miss Universe.

Marise later admitted she was glad not to have won the contest, confessing she’d only entered for the free trip and money.

Several of Marise’s friends also took to the comments to voice their heartbreak and reminisce on memories they’d shared with her

Marise left in 1991 to pursue her acting career, having roles on Australian crime film Grievous Bodily Harm before landing the part in Soldier, Soldier in 1993 for the New Zealand-set third series (pictured in show)

When asked if she was disappointed to have come runner-up, she told New Zealand Herald: ‘Nah, it would have been my worst nightmare. 

‘I dodged a bullet … Seriously, it’s just not my cup of tea. I had no sense of competing and as for winning, it never really occurred to me.’

This was followed by her first acting roles, after she was cast to play various characters on the Billy T. James Show and then won the part of Esmerelda in Came a Hot Friday in 1985.

In 1987, the star then became one of the first presenters of the live televised draw for Lotto New Zealand with Doug Harvey, earning her the affectionate nickname of the Lotto Lady.

Marise left in 1991 to pursue her acting career, having roles on Australian crime film Grievous Bodily Harm before landing the part in Soldier, Soldier in 1993 for the New Zealand-set third series.

Film roles followed with a part in Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur and the series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys in the mid-90s as well as Bonjour Timothy (1995) and Channelling Baby (1999).

Her other notable role came as Kanae in 2001’s Xena: Warrior Princess, while her last big projects were playing Sharon Short in Rude Awakenings and Rebecca Scott in New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street in 2008.

Film roles followed with a part in Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur and the series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys in the mid-90s (pictured)

In her later years, she stepped back from high-profile projects and appeared in several smaller-scale productions, mostly playing minor roles in Australasian films (seen in Soldier Soldier) 

In her later years, she stepped back from high-profile projects and appeared in several smaller-scale productions, mostly playing minor roles in Australasian films.

While Marise also moved into hospitality, revealing in the 2010s that she was working an ordinary job in a café in the 2010s and ‘living modestly’.

In an interview in 2011, she joked: ‘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.’