‘Hawaii Five-0’ actor and former sumo wrestler Taylor Wily passes away at 56

Taylor Wily’s character was warm and his comedic presence on the show made him resonate with fans across the world as well as with residents in Hawaii.

Taylor Wily, who is best known for his role as a shrimp truck vendor and police informant on the television reboot of ‘Hawaii Five-0,’ died on Thursday. He was 56.

Paul Almond, a legal representative for Taylor. Wily, confirmed his death. His cause of death and location was not immediately disclosed.

Taylor Wily starred in 170 episodes of ‘Hawaii Five-0’ as Kamekona. The show was a reimagining of the 1970s crime drama that follows the adventures of state police officers on the island. Wily’s character quickly became a fan favourite, he gradually transformed into the show’s resident entrepreneur, running a shaved ice business and a helicopter tour company along with his shrimp venture.

“‘Hawaii Five-0’ could become ‘Kamekona Five-0,’” Masi Oka, who played Dr. Max Bergman on the series, said in an interview in 2012.

The 10 season long series showed a fictional state police unit that seemed to often crave shrimp. Taylor Wily’s character was warm and his comedic presence on the show made him resonate with fans across the world as well as with residents in Hawaii.

Taylor Tuli Wily was born on June 14, 1968, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Although, his persona was known for being soft but his physical presence could often intimidate someone, standing over six feet tall and weighing at times more than 400 pounds.

Reportedly, in 1987, a friend of Wily introduced him to sumo wrestling on the promise that he would not tell Wily’s mother. Soon afterwards, Taylor competed in a tournament.

“I won a case of Spam and some rice, and that was it, I was into sumo,” Wily revealed in a 2016 interview.

Taylor Wily also spoke about his experience on ‘Hawaii Five-0,’ “It’s the best job in the world — you get to play Hollywood but be right here in Hawaii. Home.”