UFC fighter and Hawaii 5-0 actor Taylor Wily dies at 56

Hawaii 5-0 actor and former UFC fighter Taylor Wily has died on the age of 56.

Wily’s sister and his household paid tribute to him on Thursday (June 20) in a video on Facebook.

“Mourning and celebrating our favourite brother and uncle the way in which he would need us to,” she wrote. “Household, Meals, Music and Good Vibes. Aurrrrrrighhhhh (in his voice).”

The Hawaii-born star handed away on Thursday, based on a neighborhood KITV Island Information reporter who described Wily as shut household good friend.

Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. producer Peter M. Lenkov took to Instagram to pay tribute to his beloved good friend and colleague.

Taylor Wily has died. (Darryl Oumi/Getty Photos)

Captioning an image of the 2 of them collectively, Lenkov wrote: “I’m devastated. Heartbroken. I am going to submit some detailed emotions later. Simply too onerous proper now.”

His explanation for dying has not but been made public.

Wily was, in fact, finest recognized for his position as Kamekona Tupuola in CBS’ Hawaii 5-0, which he appeared in for 171 episodes that aired over the course of a decade.

A few of his different notable roles embody seven episodes of Magnum P.I. and the 2008 rom-com Forgetting Sarah Marshall, alongside Jason Segel, Kristen Bell and Paul Rudd.

Wily was additionally a sumo wrestler and blended martial artist, even competing in one of many first ever UFCs towards Gerard Gordeau in 1993.

Nevertheless, it did not precisely go properly for the actor who had his tooth knocked out when Gordeau kicked him within the jaw.

Followers have shared tributes to the late actor. (Justin Stephens/CBS by way of Getty Photos)

Wily did beforehand admit although that he had no regrets about collaborating in a harmful sport.

“There was a special feeling whenever you walked by that octagon,” he advised The New York Publish again in 2018.

“I used to be scared. I ain’t mendacity, I used to be scared. Now after I look again on it, now that I’m extra mature, I’m simply grateful to God to only have the chance to threat it.”

Followers have since taken to social media to pay tribute to the actor.

One wrote: “He was wonderful actor he will likely be missed.”

One other added: “I’ve by no means hated a personality of his. RIP.”

Whereas a 3rd commented: “This breaks my coronary heart. He was my favourite character on Hawaii 5-0. RIP Taylor, you had been cherished by many.”

Wily is survived by his spouse, Halona, and their two children.