Taylor Wileywho was part of the police series Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., died on Thursday at the age of 56. The news was confirmed by his family and close friends of his, who paid moving tributes to the late actor and sumo wrestler.
KITV, a local Hawaii media outlet, first revealed the news about Wily’s death. The news program host mentioned the actor as “a family friend” when announcing his death. The cause of death was not shared.
For his part, the television producer Peter M. Lenkov, showrunner of both series mentioned, also confirmed the news through his official Instagram account. He shared a behind-the-scenes photo with Wily and was extremely moved by the loss.
“I am broken. With a broken heart. Later I will write in detail what I feel. Right now it’s too hard,” she explained.
In a following publication, the producer wrote: “As I told you many times, I loved you from the first audition. You arrived with a towel on your head drying your sweat and I was delighted. That’s how you charmed me into making you a regular character on the show and in my life. You were part of the family. I will miss you every day, brother.”
Taylor Wily, whose birth name was Teila Tuli, He was born in Hawaii in 1968. Before entering the world of acting, he had a notable career as a sumo wrestler, becoming one of the few Americans to join this prestigious Japanese sport.
In 1993, he made the leap to mixed martial arts, participating in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event (UFC 1). Although he lost his fight against Gerard Gordeau After receiving a strong kick to the jaw, Wily did not regret having entered the competition.
In an interview for The New York Post In 2018, he stated: “There was a different feeling when you walked into that octagon. I was afraid. I’m not going to lie, I was scared. Now, looking back on it, I am grateful to God that I had the opportunity to take the risk.”
And he also took and took advantage of the right opportunity to venture into acting. Her time on screen began in the 2000s, although her first major role came in 2008 with the romantic comedy How to survive my ex?in which he worked alongside Jason Segel, Kristen Bell and Paul Rudd.
This film served as a springboard that led him to join the cast of Hawaii Five-0 in 2010. The CBS series, a remake of the classic Hawaii Five-Zero, he brought him closer to the public with the role of Kamekona Tupuolaa former criminal turned police informant.
The charisma of his character, who also operated several businesses such as a shrimp food truck and a helicopter tour company, won over viewers of crime action fiction. Wily remained in this role for all ten seasons of the series, until its conclusion in 2020.
As Magnum P.I. (another CBS remake in 2018) shared the same universe with Hawaii Five-0, Wily also made guest appearances as Kamekona in the aforementioned production.
Taylor Wily, in addition to being an actor and wrestler, was a family man. He is survived by his wife, Halona Wily, and his two children, TulaLagalaga Tatalo and YoungAsia.
His sister, Alyssa, showed the tribute that her loved ones paid her at a family gathering. “Mourning, but celebrating our favorite brother and uncle as he would want”, he wrote on his Facebook account.
One of the most touching moments was when Taylor’s nephews and nieces sang Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” in his honor, a clear display of the love and appreciation the family has for him.
