'Hawaii Five-0' Actor Taylor Wily Dead at 56
'Hawaii Five-0' Taylor Wily has died has died at 56.
June 21 2024, Published 9:39 a.m. ET
Former sumo wrestler, MMA fighter, and actor Taylor Wily, best known for his role as Kamekona Tupuola on the rebooted CBS procedurals Hawaii Five-0, Magnum P.I., and Macgyver, has died, RadarOnline.com has learned.
A KITV 4 Island News reporter, who described Wily as a close family friend, confirmed the news of his passing on Thursday. No cause of death was given. He was 56.
Wily is survived by his wife Halona and their two children.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Wily began his career as a sumo wrestler in 1987, wrestling under the name Takamikuni. At nearly 400 pounds, he was one of the largest competitors in the sport.
After retiring from sumo in 1989 due to knee problems, Wily competed in the first televised UFC bout in 1993, losing to Dutch kickboxer Gerard Gordeau in a match that ended with Wily losing three teeth and Gordeau breaking his hand.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Wily began his career as a sumo wrestler.
Wily later transitioned into acting, picking up credits in TV shows like One West Waikiki and North Shore and appearing opposite Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis in the 2008 romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver and Magnum P.I. developer and showrunner Peter M. Lenkov paid tribute to the gentle giant on social media, writing, "I am devastated. Heartbroken. I'll post some detailed feelings later. Just too hard right now."
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"T, as I told you many times, I fell in love with you at the first audition," Lenkov added in another post on Instagram. "You came in with a towel on your head mopping up sweat, and I was smitten. You charmed me into making you a regular… on the show… and in my life. You were family. And I will miss you every day brother."
"PS: when we spoke last week, we laughed at how right you were from Day 1. Five-0 was our dream job. And I was so lucky we got to share that magic together."
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"One of the kindest, most gentlest souls. Even though he was an enormous figure — not just in the acting world, but he was a big guy, man," one KITV 4 Island News reporter said of Wily while announcing his passing. "He would look physically menacing until you just folded right into a hug," another added."
Wily is survived by his wife Halona and their two children.
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