Taylor Wily Dies Mysteriously At Age 56 As Celebrity Tributes Pour In

Taylor Wily, 56, known for his roles in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008) and "Hawaii Five-O" (2010-2020), has suddenly passed away. Before his acting career, Wily competed as a sumo wrestler under the ring name "Sumo T." The exact reason for his sudden death was not revealed.

Following the news, many celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to Taylor Wily.

Hawaiian celebrity and musician Lina Girl Langi, who was a close friend of Wily and his family, announced his death on her lifestyle show "Island Life Live" on Thursday, June 20.

"It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of a Hawaii celebrity who was also a family friend,” Langi shared on her show. “Taylor Wily, former wrestler, MMA fighter, and actor passed away today in Hurricane, Utah.”

“He would look physically menacing until you just folded right into a hug, and that was it,” she added. “My heart is breaking.”

"Hawaii Five-0" and "Magnum P.I." producer Peter M. Lenkov also released a statement following Wily's death. "I am devastated. Heartbroken. I’ll post some detailed feelings later. Just too hard right now," he wrote alongside a photo of him and the late actor.

Magnum P.I. Headquarters took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to comment on the tragic news. "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Taylor Wily, the cherished actor who portrayed Kamekona on #MagnumPI and #HawaiiFive0," they wrote. "His warmth and humor left an indelible mark on our screens and in our hearts. Our condolences go out to his loved ones."

"Mourning and celebrating our favorite brother and uncle the way he would want us to. Family, Food, Music and Good Vibes," Alyssa Wily Tonga wrote on Facebook.

His niece, Latoya Levaiosina, also took to social media. "It still feels like a bad dream Unko Big Tee we love you always. Gonna miss hearing you and Pops Ais' talking almost every night," she wrote. "So many good and funny memories."

Fans were taken aback by the news and were left wondering about the details surrounding Taylor Wily's mysterious death.

"Wait what happened?!" one Instagram user commented on Peter M. Lenkov's tribute post. "Oh God! What happened?" another echoed.

"It was shocking to me to hear," a third admitted.

It is unclear how Wily passed away, but he had no known medical conditions aside from a knee problem.

Many other X users shared their condolences to the late actor. "So sorry to hear about the passing of Taylor Wily. Taylor was a gentle giant and a sweet soul. He will be missed. RIP Taylor," one fan said.

"RIP TAYLOR WILY! You were such a bright spot in everything you were in, especially FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL!" another wrote.

"Our thoughts and prayers to Taylor Wily family & friends. We will never forget you on #hawaii50 and #magnumpi. Ohana forever," one fan said.

"Aw, man, that’s a shame. Loved him as Kamekona. R.I.P. Taylor Wily," another X user expressed.

"RIP Teila Tuli aka Taylor Wily the man who competed in the very first UFC Fight at UFC 1 in 1993," TV broadcaster Jason Hagholm said. "Passing a few weeks after Art Jimmerson too the Pioneers of UFC 1 are passing way too quickly."

One of Taylor Wily's friends released a statement on X. "During the early days of #H50, so many of the fans & cast became Ohana," she wrote. "A true community. I was blessed to say that @TaylorWily became a friend to me...albeit only on FB...but that friendship transcended a TV show & became a reality. May his memory be a blessing. #TaylorWily."

"Loved Taylor Wily in Hawaii Five-O & Magnum PI as Kamekona," one X user expressed. "Very funny actor. He also holds the distinction of being in the very first UFC fight on the very first UFC event ever held in November 1993."

Rest in peace.