Veteran television and film star Peter Navy Tuiasosopo, known for Street Fighter and several other titles, has died. He was 61.
Tuiasosopo’s son Manoah Peter Tuiasosopo announced the news with a statement on Facebook.
“We are grateful for the thoughts and prayers as we mourn the loss of our father, Peter N. Tuiasosopo, who passed away at 3:16 am this morning,” the message read. “His legacy will continue beyond his incredible life.”
A cause of death was not shared but his son added that Tuiasosopo is “no longer in pain.” TMZ reports the actor died from heart complications.
Tuiasosopo has built a career in the entertainment industry since 1991, appearing in various television shows and films, starting with his role in Necessary Roughness.
But he is best known for playing E. Honda in the 1994 Street Fighter adaptation, a sumo wrestler accompanying Chun-Li on her quest.
In 2011, he had a short stint on The Young and the Restless, portraying Koa, a character involved in the concealment surrounding Skye Newman’s (Laura Stone) demise.
His more recent roles include playing Big Bob on New Girl as well as appearances in Black-ish, Ray Donovan, and Magnum P.I. According to his IMDb, Tuiasosopo’s final role will be in the upcoming action comedy Gimme My Money, starring James Hong and Raymond J. Barry.
Speaking to TMZ, his son described him as “a trailblazer for Polynesian actors in Hollywood.”
Per New York Post, Tuiasosopo also had a brief career in the NFL between 1987 and 1989 when he was signed on to the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams.
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&appId=823934954307605&version=v2.8”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
