Taylor Wily, a Hawaiian-born former sumo wrestler best known for his acting appearances in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Hawaii Five-0, and Magnum, P.I., passed away at the age of 56.
A family acquaintance originally announced his death on Hawaii’s KITV; she did not specify the cause of loss. Hawaii Five-0 producer Peter M. Lenkov also confirmed the news on social media, posting a selfie of himself and Wily.
“I am devastated. Heartbroken,” Lenkov wrote. He later posted a more lengthy tribute:
“T, as I told you many times, I fell in love with you at the first audition. 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.”
Wily also appeared as Kamekona on fellow CBS reboots MacGyver and Magnum, P.I. He also made a cameo in the 20th season of The Amazing Race.
After the actor’s death, Wily’s sister Alyssa shared a video on Facebook of the family celebrating his life.
“Mourning and celebrating our favorite brother and uncle the way he would want us to,” she wrote. “Family, Food, Music and Good Vibes.”
According to Deadline, Wily is survived by his wife Halona and their two children.