Tamayo Perry: What you should know about the death of the actor-surfer

Tamayo Perry, the professional surfer and actor who died in an apparent shark attack off the north shore of Oahu on Monday, was remembered by his colleagues and family as a “legendary waterman” and man of faith.

Here’s what you should know about him and the circumstances of his death:

who was he?

The 49-year-old was a professional surfer, lifeguard and stuntman and also appeared in the sensational films “Blue Crush,” “Charlie’s Angels 2” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” as well as in the television series “Hawaii Five-0” and “Lost.”

“When I’m not acting, I’m still a real character, so there’s always a lot of fun to be had,” he said in his official bio on the website of his company, Oahu Surfing Experience.

Perry, who was born and raised in a small provincial town on O’ahu east of the North Shore, was “a knight forged in the fire of the North Shore in the ’90s,” his family said. He also co-founded Oahu Surfing Experience, where he offered surfing lessons with his wife, Emilia. He also worked as a lifeguard on the North Shore. He began his career with the Department of Marine Safety in July 2016.

“Tamayo Perry was a lifeguard loved by everyone. He was well known on the North Shore. He is a world-renowned professional surfer,” Kurt Lager, deputy director of Honolulu Ocean Safety, said at a news conference. “Tamayo’s personality was infectious, and as much as people liked him, he liked everyone else even more.”

Before that, he was a professional surfer for more than 15 years, boasting about getting paid to surf the Pipeline, which he called “the deadliest wave in the world,” according to his professional bio.

His breakthrough onto the world stage came in 1999 when he won the prestigious Pipeline Masters trials, which gave the “little island boy” the opportunity to compete with the world’s best in the Pipe Masters competitions. He later competed in the industry-acclaimed “Super Final” in Tahupoo, Tahiti, against Andy Irons, Kelly Slater and Vetea David.

The surfer said a “freak accident that turned into a near-fatal experience” at Pipeline ultimately led him to give lessons – his goal was to teach his students “proper surfing etiquette and safety.”

What happened?

Local authorities said Perry was surfing at Lake Mālaekahana Beach near an area known as Goat Island on the northeast shore of Oahu and was killed in the attack Sunday afternoon.

Honolulu Ocean Safety and the city’s fire, police and emergency medical services responded to the beach shortly before 1 p.m. after a caller reported seeing a man who appeared to have “suffered more than a shark bite,” Shayne Enright of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times on Monday. Lifeguards brought Perry to shore on a jet ski and paramedics assisted in determining death.

Following the incident, Ocean Safety personnel issued shark warnings in the area, Enright said.

The official cause of death has not yet been announced and it is unclear what type of shark attacked him.

How common are shark attacks in this area?

Perry’s death is reportedly the ninth fatal shark attack in Hawaii in the past 20 years, Honolulu News Now reported Monday. His is believed to be the only death during that time that did not occur in the waters off the island of Maui.

The actor’s death was one of four shark incidents in Hawaii this year, according to the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. Only about a dozen of more than 300 shark species have been involved in attacks on humans, the National Ocean Service said, and those attacks usually occur when the shark is confused or curious.

Although attacks are still statistically rare, annual shark attacks and fatalities increased in 2023, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File. ISAF, a database of global shark attacks, reported in February that there were 69 confirmed unprovoked cases worldwide last year, 10 of which were fatal. That number is in line with the most recent five-year average (between 2018 and 2022) of 63 incidents per year.

One possible factor for this increase is climate change, researchers say, but the increase could also be due to the fact that more people are at sea each year and bites and deaths are being reported more frequently.

Perry, who described himself as a “Jaws” fan, wrote on Facebook in 2015 that “sharks freak him out” and that “only the Lord can tell when your time is coming.” In another post, he said he could sense when sharks were nearby while surfing, the Daily Beast reported.

What did Perry’s family and colleagues say?

Tamayo Perry of Hawaii in action during round three of the 2003 Billabong Pro Trials in Teahupoo, Tahiti, French Polynesia.

(Pierre Tostee / Getty Images)

In a statement to the Times and later posted on social media, Perry’s family praised him as a “hero.”

“He was everyone’s big brother, stern and uncompromising with an infectious and colohe smile. He was your savior in times of need, your security when everything fell apart. He was a knight forged in the fires of the North Shore in the 90’s, his faith in Christ the rock he stood on. There are few who truly follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Tamayo never lost sight of the path,” the statement said.

“As tragic as his death may be, he left this world doing what he loved, where he loved it. We find strength in knowing that he is in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ, trading barrels at Pipeline with his friends who have gone before him.”

This is how the surfing world reacted

The marine community on Oahu is said to be shaken by the attack. According to Hawaii News Now, an informal memorial to Perry was erected on Monday near his lifeguard post at the Banzai Pipeline. There, his longtime colleague Lt. Dave Wassel of the Honolulu Ocean Department spoke about the “unique situation” the community had been “thrown” into.

“There’s nothing in the manual about how to deal with this,” Wassel told the news channel. “There are people who are still alive today because he performed successful CPR on them. That’s not something you can say about many people, so it’s great to see.”

In a statement to the Times, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said Perry “exemplifies bravery, dedication and a deep sense of duty, serving our community with unwavering devotion.”

“We will never forget his heroic actions and tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors,” the mayor said. “As we mourn this unimaginable loss, we are reminded of the risks our lifeguards face every day and we want to express our deepest gratitude for their service.”

The World Surf League tweeted its condolences to Perry’s family, mourning the loss of the “beloved icon” who was a member of the league for many years.

His legacy

While the family asked for privacy, his wife has since started a GoFundMe fundraiser called “Supporting Tamayo Perry’s Legacy.” The campaign launched on Monday with a goal of raising $100,000. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had already raised over $38,000.

His company said it would announce a celebration of life at a later date.