Taylor Wily, the American Samoan wrestler who rose to fame in the sumo world during the late 1980s before becoming an actor, has passed away at 56. Wily is best remembered for his portrayal of Kamekona Tupuola on the CBS reboot of the popular crime series Hawaii Five-0.
The news of Wily’s death was verified by Peter M. Lenkov, the executive producer of the Hawaii Five-0 reboot. The show, which debuted in 2010, enjoyed a successful ten-year run. In the series, Wily played Kamekona, a shrimp truck owner and informant who provided valuable information to the Five-0 Task Force.
Lenkov shared his sorrow on Instagram, reminiscing about his friend: “T, as I’ve told you many times, I fell in love with you at the first audition. 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,” he concluded.
Furthermore, Wily’s transition from a sumo wrestler to a beloved actor made him a fan favourite around the globe. His legacy endures through his memorable performances and the significant impact he had on the entertainment industry.
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In addition to his iconic role as Kamekona Tupuola on Hawaii Five-0, Taylor Wily, born Teila Tuli, had a diverse career, showing his versatility as an actor. Here are some of his other notable roles: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Magnum P.I., The Amazing Race and many others.
Before his acting career, Wily was a sumo wrestler. He even participated in the first bout held in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2000. A truly versatile talent.
