Taylor Wily’s ‘Hawaii 5-0’ co-stars pay tribute after his death at 56

The cast of “Hawaii 5-0” are mourning the loss of Taylor Wily, who has died at the age of 56.

His cause of death has not yet been disclosed, but his passing was confirmed by Hawaiian news station KITV 4 Island News on Thursday. “Hawaii Five-0” executive producer Peter M. Lenkov also shared the news via Instagram.

Lenkov posted a behind-the-scenes picture with Wily, writing that he’s “heartbroken” over the loss.

“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 penned.

“PS: when we spoke last week, we 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 is known for his role as Kamekona on the CBS drama, which he starred in for 171 episodes from 2010 to 2020.

His former co-stars Jorge Garcia and Will Yun Lee also paid tribute.

Garcia, who played Jerry Ortega from 2013 to 2020 on the show, shared a sweet tribute to Wily on Instagram.

“Sad to hear of the passing of Taylor Wily. Big guy with an even bigger heart. He brought me joy from the moment I first saw him spoofing me in a local LOST themed commercial,” the actor, 51, wrote. “I was always happy to see him. Will miss him greatly.”

Will Yun Lee, for his part, called Wily “a Prince of a man” and “gentle warrior.”

“Loved him the second I met him,” he wrote. “Loved hearing all his stories, especially about the UFC. But mostly I just enjoyed sitting with him in his quietness. Sending love to his family. He will be missed.

#H50.” Lee, 53, appeared on the series in the recurring role of Sang Min.

The show also starred Alex O’Loughlin, Daniel Dae Kim, Scott Caan and Grace Park. It won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama in 2011.

Beyond “Hawaii 5-0,” Wily is also known for appearing in the 2008 comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and reprising his role as Kameokona in “Magnum P.I.” and “MacGyver.”

Before his acting career, Wily achieved success as a sumo wrestler under the name “Takamishu” in Japan. He won his first 14 matches before becoming the first foreign-born wrestler to win the championship in the third-highest makushita division, according to TV Insider.

Born Teila Tuli on June 14, 1968 in Honolulu, Wily was described as one of the “kindest” and “gentlest souls” on a broadcast of “Island Life Live.”

“He would look physically menacing until you just folded right into a hug, and that was it. My heart is breaking,” musician Lina Girl Langi, a close friend of Wily’s, said on the show.

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