‘Hawaii 5-0’ Actor Was once 56
Taylor Wily, the sumo wrestler-turned-Hawaii 5-0 actor, died Thursday, June 20, in step with native Hawaii TV outlet KITV. He was once 56.
Even though specifics in regards to the loss of life — the place, and a motive — weren’t straight away recognized, his passing was once showed by means of Peter M. Lenkov, govt manufacturer of the 2010-20 Hawaii 5-0 reboot.
First of all posting an Instagram message pronouncing merely, “I’m devastated. Heartbroken. I’ll publish some detailed emotions later. Simply too onerous presently,” Lenkov adopted up with a lengthier publish, addressing Wily at once:
“T, as I informed you time and again, I fell in love with you on the first audition. You got here in with a towel in your head mopping up sweat, and I used to be smitten. You charmed me into making you a standard… at the display… and in my lifestyles. You had been circle of relatives. And I will be able to omit you on a daily basis, brother.
“PS: once we spoke ultimate week, we laughed at how proper you had been from Day 1. 5-0 was once our dream process. And I used to be so fortunate we were given to proportion that magic in combination.”
Born Teila Tuli on June 14, 1968, Wily was once from Laie, Hawaii and was once of American Samoan descent. Previous to turning into an actor, he was once a a hit and common sumo wrester and combined martial artist. After leaving sumo, Wily started competing in Final Combating Championships, competing as Teila Tuli in his first UFC bout in November 1993.
His first notable appearing function in a big movie got here within the comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall in 2008 through which he performed a lodge employee who befriends Jason Segel’s primary persona Peter Bretter. Two years later, he was once forged in a ordinary function on Hawaii 5-0 as informant Kamekona, a personality he would play for the following ten years at the display.
He performed the similar persona in seven episodes of Magnum P.I. from 2018 to 2020.
Wily is survived by means of spouse Halona and their two youngsters.
