Taylor Wily, the American actor and sumo-wrestler best known for his recurring role on Hawaii Five-O, has died aged 56.
While details surrounding his death remain unclear, his passing was confirmed by Hawaii Five-O executive producer Peter M.Lenkov.
Lenkov posted a message on Instagram which read: “I am devastated. Heartbroken. I’ll post some detailed feelings later. Just too hard right now.”
Later, he provided a longer tribute to his friend and colleague.
“T, as I told you many times, I fell in love with you at the first audition,” he began. “You came in with a towel on your head mopping up sweat, and I was smitten.
“You charmed me into making you a regular… on the show… and in my life. You were family. And I will miss you every day, brother.”
He added how the pair spoke just last week, and shared how they “laughed at how right you were from Day 1. Five-0 was our dream job. And I was so lucky we got to share that magic together.”
Wily was born Teila Tuli on June 14, 1968 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was of American Samoan descent.
He had a successful sumo-wrestling career before becoming an actor, and also competed in Ultimate Fighting Championships as a mixed martial artist.
As well as his recurring role on Hawaii Five-O as Kamekona Tupuola, and subsequently in MacGyver and Magnum P.I. in the same role, Wily starred in the 2008 romcom Forgetting Sarah Marshall, starring Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Russell Brand.
According to Deadline, Wily is survived by his wife and their two children.