Shocking News: ‘Hawaii Five-0’ Star Taylor Wily Dead at 56 – What Happened?

Renowned Samoan actor and former sumo wrestler Taylor Wily, recognized for his iconic roles in “Hawaii Five-0” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” passed away due to natural causes on Thursday in Las Vegas, as reported by his manager and confidant, Michael J. Henderson, to The Times. Wily was 56 years old.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Wily was known for his unforgettable performance as Kemo, a hotel employee, in the 2008 romantic comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” which starred big names like Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis.

Following that, Wily featured in CBS’s reboot of the classic series “Hawaii Five-0.” In the series, Wily portrayed the character of Kamekona Tupuola, a former convict turned businessman and informant for the Hawaii Five-0 team. His character was elevated to a regular role in the eighth season of the series. Wily’s character also made appearances in “Magnum P.I.” and “MacGyver.”

Before his acting career, Wily was a sumo wrestler, where he competed in Japan under the alias of Takamikuni. Weighing nearly 440 pounds, Wily remained unbeaten in his first 14 bouts. However, he decided to retire from sumo wrestling in 1989.

After retiring from sumo, Wily transitioned into mixed martial arts and competed in the inaugural Ultimate Fighting Championship as Teila Tuli. Despite losing in the first round, he did not participate in any further competitions.

The news of Wily’s passing was shared on Instagram by Peter M. Lenkov, former showrunner of “Hawaii Five-0” and “Magnum P.I.”

Lenkov wrote a heartfelt message saying, “T, as I’ve said to you many times before, I was captivated by you at the first audition. Your charming personality made me want to make you a regular on the show and in my life. You were like family to me and your absence will be felt every day, my friend.” He added, “We shared a dream job at Five-0, and I am grateful for the unforgettable moments we shared together.”

“Hawaii Five-0” actress Meaghan Rath expressed her sorrow by commenting a broken heart emoji on Lenkov’s post. Writer-producer Trey Callaway commented, “His memory will continue to be a source of joy to millions.”

“Magnum P.I.” scriptwriter Andre Jackson also reacted to the news on X, posting “Aloha, buddy.”

Wily leaves behind his wife, Halona Wily, and their two children.