Hawaii Five-0 and UFC Fighter Taylor Wily Dies at 56
Actor and former sumo wrestler Taylor Wily, known for his roles in "Hawaii Five-0" and "Magnum P.I.," has died at the age of 56. His death was confirmed by KITV 4 Island News in Hawaii, though the cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Wily, born in Honolulu and of American Samoan descent, is survived by his wife and two children.
Wily was widely recognized for his portrayal of Kamekona Tupuola in the crime dramas "Hawaii Five-0" and "Magnum P.I." He also appeared in the comedy film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." Before his acting career, Wily had a successful sumo wrestling career in the late '80s, becoming the first foreign-born wrestler to win the championship in the third-highest Makushita division. He also competed in the first-ever Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993.
Tributes have poured in from his colleagues and family. Peter M. Lenkov, a former co-star, expressed his devastation on social media. Wily's sister, Alyssa, shared a video of their family paying tribute to him with a rendition of Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds." In addition to his acting career, Wily operated several businesses, including a shrimp food truck, helicopter tours company, and Wailoa Shaved Ice.
