Taylor Wily’s ‘Hawaii 5-0’ co-stars pay tribute to her death at age 56

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

The cause of death has not yet been announced, but was confirmed Thursday by Hawaiian news channel KITV 4 Island News. Hawaii Five-0 executive producer Peter M. Lenkov also shared the news via Instagram.

Lenkov posted a behind-the-scenes photo with Wily and wrote that he was “heartbroken” by the loss.

“You came in with a towel on your head wiping away the sweat and I was blown away. You made me want to make you a regular… on the show… and in my life. You were family. And I will miss you every day, brother,” he wrote.

“PS: When we spoke last week, we laughed about how right you were from day one. Five-0 was our dream job. And I was so lucky that we got to experience that magic together.”

Wily is known for his role as Kamekona in the CBS drama, where he appeared in 171 episodes from 2010 to 2020.

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

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

“Sad to hear of the passing of Taylor Wily. A big guy with an even bigger heart. He brought me joy from the first time I saw him looking over me in a local LOST commercial,” the 51-year-old actor wrote. “I was always happy to see him. He will be missed greatly.”

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

“I liked him from the moment I met him,” he wrote. “I loved hearing all his stories, especially about the UFC. But most of all, I just enjoyed sitting quietly with him. Sending love to his family. He will be missed. 💔 #H50.” Lee, 53, appeared on the series in the recurring role of Sang Min.

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

In addition to “Hawaii 5-0,” Wily is also known for his appearances in the 2008 comedy “Forget About Your Ex” and for his reprising role as Kameokona in “Magnum PI” and “MacGyver.”

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

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

“He looked physically threatening until you just hugged him and that was it. My heart breaks,” musician Lina Girl Langi, a close friend of Wily, said on the show.

Wily leaves behind his wife Halona and their two children.