Taylor Wily, a previous sumo wrestler and Samoan actor best identified for his roles in “Hawaii 5-0” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” died of organic brings about on Thursday in Las Vegas, his supervisor and friend Michael J. Henderson advised The Periods. He was 56.
The Hawaii-born actor was a scene-stealer as hotel worker Kemo in the 2008 romantic comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis.
Wily went on to seem in CBS’ “Hawaii 5-0” reboot. Wily, who performed Kamekona Tupuola, a convict turned entrepreneur and informant for the Hawaii 5- workforce, was promoted to sequence standard in the show’s eighth time. His character also appeared in “Magnum P.I.” and “MacGyver.”
Wily began his job as a sumo wrestler, competing in Japan less than the title Takamikuni. At practically 440 lbs, Wily was undefeated in his 1st 14 matches. He retired from the activity in 1989.
Following his retirement, he began instruction in blended martial arts and competed in the first-at any time Top Combating Championship as Teila Tuli. He misplaced in his very first spherical and did not compete once more.
Previous “Hawaii 5-0” and “Magnum P.I.” showrunner Peter M. Lenkov posted about Wily’s demise on Instagram.
“T, as I advised you quite a few moments, I fell in enjoy with you at the first audition. You came in with a towel on your head mopping up sweat, and I was smitten. You charmed me into earning you a regular… on the show… and in my everyday living. You had been family. And I will skip you each individual working day, brother,” Lenkov wrote. “PS: when we spoke last 7 days, we laughed at how proper you were being from Working day 1. 5- was our desire work. And I was so fortunate we received to share that magic with each other.”
“Hawaii Five-0” star Meaghan Rath commented a broken coronary heart emoji below the article. Author-producer Trey Callaway commented, “His memory will in fact keep on being a blessing to thousands and thousands.”
“Magnum P.I.” author Andre Jackson retweeted the news on X — formerly Twitter — including “Aloha, buddy.”
Wily is survived by his spouse Halona Wily and their two children.
