(KTLA) — Actor Taylor Wily, best known for his role as Kamekona Tupuola on “Hawaii Five-0,” has died. He was 56 years old.
Lana Girl Langi, a Hawaiian personality and musician, announced his death on the local lifestyle show Island Life Live on June 20.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of a Hawaii celebrity who was also a family friend. Taylor Wily, former wrestler, MMA fighter and actor passed away today in Hurricane, Utah.”
Wily, who hails from Hawaii, performed as an amateur sumo wrestler in Japan under the name Takamikuni in the late ’80s, according to his profile on IMDb. He later competed as Teila Tuli in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (2000), or UFC, where he fought Gerard Gordeau at “UFC 1: The Beginning in 1993.” It was his only MMA fight.
Wiley then switched career paths and took up acting. He’s appeared in Jason Segel’s film “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and the modern reboots of “Hawaii Five-0,” “Magnum P.I.” and “MacGyver.”
Peter M. Lenkov, the developer and showrunner of the “Hawaii Five-0” reboot took to Instagram to remember Wily.
“I am devastated. Heartbroken,” he wrote. “I’ll post some detailed feelings later. Just too hard right now.”
Lenkov later posted a video tribute to Wily on the platform.
“T, as I told you many times, I fell in love with you at the first audition. You came in with a towel on your head mopping up sweat, and I was smitten,” he wrote. “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.”
He also added that the two just 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,” he continued.
Dennis Chun, who played Sgt. Duke Lakela in the series also honored Wily.
“Laura and I are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Taylor Wily,” he penned in a post alongside a photo of the two. “He was not just a great talent but he was a giant of man. His aloha and heart always made sharing a scene with him such a joy. It was an honor to not only work with him but also to call him friend. Rest well, Taylor. Hawaii and I weep tonight. Aloha Taylor until we meet again.”
Wily’s cause of death has not been revealed.
He is survived by his wife, Halona, and their two children.