Beloved "Hawaii Five-0" Actor Taylor Wily Dies at 56

Taylor Wily, who played the beloved informant Kamekona Tupuola on "Hawaii Five-0," has passed away at the age of 56. The cause of his death remains unknown.

**Paragraph 1:** Taylor Wily, the former sumo wrestler turned beloved television actor, tragically passed away on Thursday at the age of 56. Details surrounding his untimely demise, including the cause of death, remain undisclosed at this time.

**Paragraph 2:** The somber news of Wily's passing was confirmed to The Associated Press by "Hawaii Five-0" executive producer Peter Lenkov, who paid heartfelt tributes to his cherished "brother" on social media.

Beloved "Hawaii Five-0" Actor Taylor Wily Dies at 56

**Paragraph 3:** "T, as I told you many times, I fell in love with you at the first audition," Lenkov wrote in a caption accompanying a montage of precious moments with Wily. "You came in with a towel on your head mopping up sweat, and I was smitten."

**Paragraph 4:** Lenkov went on to reveal that Wily's infectious charm played a pivotal role in securing him a regular role on the show. "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."

Beloved "Hawaii Five-0" Actor Taylor Wily Dies at 56

**Paragraph 5:** Born as Teila Tuli, Wily became a fan favorite on "Hawaii Five-0" as Kamekona Tupuola, an informant who appeared in 171 episodes of the detective series. His charismatic portrayal of the character extended to a few episodes of "Magnum P.I." as well.

**Paragraph 6:** Prior to his successful acting career, Wily competed in sumo wrestling and participated briefly in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His remarkable transition to the silver screen led him to fame in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," where he played hotel employee Kemo, who formed an unlikely friendship with Jason Segel's character.

Beloved "Hawaii Five-0" Actor Taylor Wily Dies at 56

**Paragraph 7:** In another heartfelt post, Lenkov shared, "I’ve been hearing from thousands of people whose lives Taylor touched. Not surprised one bit. If you met him, he was immediately your friend. I keep hearing from people how ‘approachable’ he was. So true."

**Paragraph 8:** Lenkov fondly recalled their shared dream of opening a real-life Kamekona shave ice stand or shrimp truck, where Wily could greet customers during his time off from filming.

**Paragraph 9:** Will Yun Lee, who co-starred with Wily on "Hawaii: Five-0," described him on Instagram as "a prince of a man who was a king, gentle warrior."

**Paragraph 10:** "Loved him the second I met him. Loved hearing all his stories, especially about the UFC. But mostly I just enjoyed sitting with him in his quietness. Sending love to his family. He will be missed."

**Paragraph 11:** Michelle Borth, who played Catherine Rollins on "Hawaii Five-0," expressed her profound sorrow: "My heart aches. Taylor was a gentle soul with a big beautiful heart and infectious smile. I’m grateful for the memories and the time we shared. You’ll be missed, but never forgotten my friend."

**Paragraph 12:** Taylor Wily is survived by his wife, Halona, and their two children. The entertainment world mourns the loss of a beloved actor and a cherished member of the "Hawaii Five-0" family.