AN actor best known for his role in Hawaii Five-0 reportedly suffered horror injuries in a wheelchair accident – just months before his death.
Taylor Tuli Wily, who starred in more than 100 episodes of the hit TV series, died in Utah in June 2024 at the age of 56.
But, a lawsuit, filed on September 26 and seen by The U.S. Sun, has claimed he was left with head injuries following an accident that occurred on October 3, 2023.
His estate has claimed the injuries he suffered led to his death.
Wily, who was in a wheelchair, was being loaded into a transport van.
But, its ramp stopped working and the actor fell from a platform, as per the court docs.
Wily, of Hawaii, then hit his head on the sidewalk as a result.
His estate have claimed that he was unable to get life-saving treatment for the injuries.
The actor's estate is seeking more than $50,000 and wants a jury trial.
It has accused GMTCare, a Nevada transportation company, of failing to make sure the lift was safe.
The court documents also accuse the firm of negligence.
The lawsuit was filed more than a year after Wily's manager told The Los Angeles Times that the screen star died of natural causes.
Wily's acting career spanned decades, but he was also a sumo wrestler and UFC competitor.
As a sumo wrestler, he went undefeated in his first 14 matches.
Wily retired from the sport in 1989.
Wily competed in his first and only UFC bout in November 1993 when he lost to Gerard Gordeau.
Taylor Wily's acting roles
TAYLOR Wily got his big break in Hollywood in the '90s and has appeared in several dramas and movies.
- 1996 – One West Waikaki, Joseph Kalama
- 2004 – North Shore, bartender
- 2008 – Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Kemo
- 2010 – 2020 – Hawaii Five-0, Kamekona Tupuola
- 2014 – Where I Come From, Taylor
- 2017 – MacGyver, Kamekona Tupuola
- 2017 – Radical, Julius
- 2018 – 2020 – Magnum P.I., Kamekona Tupuola
Source: IMDB
He was knocked out in the opening 30 seconds in what was UFC's first broadcast fight.
Three of Wily's teeth were dislodged thanks to a flying kick Gordeau executed.
After competing in the Octagon, he appeared in episodes of the TV series Marker and One West Waikiki.
But, he was best known for his role as Kamekona in Hawaii Five-0.
Wily starred in 171 episodes of the program between 2010 and 2020.
His final credited acting role was in Magnum P.I. between 2018 and 2020, where he also starred as Kamekona.
Peter Lenkov, an ex-Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. runner, led the tributes.
"You charmed me into making you a regular… on the show… and in my life," he posted on Instagram.
"You were family. And I will miss you every day, brother."
Scores of fans commented underneath Lenkov's post, saying that Wily made Hawaii Five-0.
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