Taylor Wily, an actor recognized for his roles on “Hawaii 5-0” and “Magnum PBy KAITLYN HUAMANI Related PressJune 21, 2024, 3:26 PM ET• 2 min readLOS ANGELES — Taylor Wily, a former sumo wrestler who grew to become recognized for his position as confidential informant Kamekona Tupuola on each “Hawaii 5-0” and “Magnum P.I,” has died, his good friend and a “Hawaii 5-0” producer each mentioned Friday. He was 56.“Hawaii 5-0” government producer Peter M. Lenkov confirmed his demise to The Related Press and shared a number of tributes to the actor on Instagram, writing “I’m devastated. Heartbroken” in a caption of a photograph of the 2.KITV 4, primarily based in Honolulu, was the primary to report Wily’s demise on Thursday. Further particulars in regards to the trigger stay unknown. TV and radio persona Lina Lady Langi mentioned on the present “Island Life Dwell” that she introduced the information “with a heavy coronary heart,” as Wily was a good friend.Lenkov, Wily’s longtime good friend and collaborator, shared a second submit in a while Thursday with a video montage that includes photographs and clips with Wily. He wrote, “You charmed me into making you an everyday… on the present… and in my life. You have been household. And I’ll miss you daily, brother.”In an extra assertion to the AP, Lenkov mentioned it was onerous to explain how “particular” Wily was and lauded the actor for his abilities.“Although lots of his ‘Hawaii 5-0’ and ‘Magnum’ scenes featured his comedy abilities, he was an unimaginable dramatic actor, as nicely,” Lenvok mentioned. “I had developed a script a pair years again and wrote him a job and hoped to place him in my subsequent venture. I simply wished to maintain him shut… not simply as a good friend, however as an artist. Devastated I received’t get that chance.”Wily performed Kamekona on “Hawaii 5-0” from 2010 by way of 2020 and have become a fan-favorite. He continued in the identical position with the reboot of “Magnum P.I.” and made a memorable look as a lodge employee within the 2008 comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”Earlier than he started appearing, Wily, born Teila Tuli, was a widely known sumo wrestler and UFC 1 fighter. He grew to become the primary knockout sufferer in UFC historical past in 1993 when opponent Gerard Gordeau’s kick knocked a tooth filter of Wily’s mouth, ending the combat after simply 26 seconds.Wily is survived by his spouse, Halona, and their two kids.