“Hawaii Five-0” actor Taylor Wily dies at 56

“Hawaii Five-0” star Taylor Wily has died. He was 56 years old.

Wily’s death was confirmed by KITV 4 Island News in Hawaii. Musician Lina Girl Langi, who was close friends with Wily and his family, announced the news on her lifestyle show “Island Life Live.”

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of a Hawaiian celebrity who was also a family friend,” Langi said on the show Thursday. “Taylor Wily, former professional wrestler, MMA fighter and actor, passed away today in Hurricane, Utah.”

She added: “He seemed physically threatening until you just hugged him and that was it. My heart breaks.”

Her co-host Davey D described Wily as one of the “kindest” and “gentlest souls.”

His cause of death was not disclosed.

Wily – real name Teila Tuli – played Kamekona in the CBS drama between 2010 and 2020 in 171 episodes over 10 seasons. He reprised his role for seven episodes in “Magnum PI”

Peter Lenkov, the executive producer of “Hawaii Five-0” and “Magnum PI,” shared a photo of himself next to Wily on Instagram with the caption: “I am devastated. Heartbroken. I will post more about my feelings in a few days. It’s just too hard right now.”

In a second post, he wrote that he “fell in love” with Wily after his first audition.

“You came in with a towel on your head wiping away the sweat and I was blown away. You made me want to make you a regular… on the show… and in my life. You were family. And I will miss you every day, brother,” he wrote.

“PS: When we spoke last week, we laughed about how right you were from day one. Five-0 was our dream job. And I was so lucky that we got to experience that magic together.”

According to the Sun, the actor’s sister, Alyssa, shared a video of her and her family paying tribute to the UFC fighter at a gathering on Thursday.

“We mourn the loss of our favorite brother and uncle and celebrate him as he would have wanted,” she captioned a clip on Facebook. “Family, food, music and good vibes. Aurrrrrrrighhhhh (in his voice).”

The late star’s nephews and nieces also sang Bob Marley’s 1980 song “Three Little Birds (Don’t Worry About A Thing).”

“Singing for her uncle t-shirt,” Alyssa wrote.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1968, Wily also appeared in the 2008 romantic comedy “Forget About Your Ex” with Jason Segel, Kristen Bell and Paul Rudd. His other roles include “Radical,” “MacGyver,” “North Shore” and “Marker.”

Off screen, Wily was a sumo wrestler under the name “Takamishu”.

According to TV Insider, he won his first 14 fights before becoming the first foreign-born wrestler to win the championship in the third-highest makushita division. In 2000, he lost to fighter Gerard Gordeau in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

He leaves behind his wife Halona and their two children.

The Post has contacted Wily’s representative for comment.