Taylor Wily — an actor and former sumo wrestler best known for his recurring role on “Hawaii Five-0” — has died.
According to an anchor for local Hawaii outlet KITV — who described Taylor as a family friend … Taylor died Thursday. KITV did not provide a cause of death.
Television producer Peter M. Lenkovconfirmed the news on his official Instagram account … posting a picture with Wily from behind the scenes of a television show and telling his followers he’s “heartbroken.”.
Lenkov says he’ll provide more details in the days to come … but is far too emotional now to discuss his longtime friend’s death.
TW — born Teila Tuli — started out as a sumo wrestler in the late 1980s — becoming a rare example of an American joining the prestigious Japanese sport and reportedly compiling a 57-27-14 record over the next two years.
Wily also fought in a different arena … slugging it out in one bout in the then-new UFC 1 — and, he’s the first fighter to ever lose a UFC brawl.
Taylor didn’t actually start acting until the mid-2000s … when he landed his breakout as Kemo in the Jason Segelmovie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”
Two years later, he got his part as criminal informant Kamekona Tupuola on ‘Five-0’ a role he played in 171 episodes. He reprised the role in the shows “Macgyver” and “Magnum P.I.”
Taylor’s survived by his wife Halonaand their two children.
He was 56.
