Peter Tuiasosopo

Peter Navy Tuiasosopo
Born(1963-12-22)December 22, 1963
San Pedro, California, U.S.
DiedFebruary 10, 2025(2025-02-10) (aged 61)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1992–2025
SpouseCheryl D. Leonard
Football career
No. 68
PositionCenter
Personal information
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight285 lb (129 kg)
Career information
High schoolPhineas Banning (Wilmington, California)
CollegeUtah State
NFL draft1987: undrafted
Career history
  1. ↑ undrafted free agent
Career NFL statistics
Games played3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Peter Navy Tuiasosopo (December 22, 1963[1] – February 10, 2025) was an American actor and professional football player. He is known for his roles as E. Honda in Street Fighter (1994) and Manumana in Necessary Roughness (1991). He also played custodian Yoshi Nakamura in the Disney Channel series Kickin' It.

Tuiasosopo played football as a center in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the Utah State Aggies.

Early life

Tuiasosopo was born and raised in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, as one of seven children.[2] His father, Manavaalofa Petelo, served in the U.S. Army for 27 years and worked for the U.S. Postal Service, and his mother, Silaulala "Sheila" Lealoa Alofaituli, was a registered nurse.[2]

Tuiasosopo attended Taper Avenue Elementary and San Pedro High School in San Pedro, California. He lettered in both football as an offensive/defensive lineman and on the track team as a shot putter. He accepted a football scholarship from Utah State University.[3]

Career

Professional football

Tuiasosopo was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1987 NFL draft. He was waived on August 1.[4] Following the NFL players' strike in the third week of the 1987 season, he was signed to the Los Angeles Rams' roster of replacement players. He started three games at center but was released after the strike ended.

In 1988, Tuiasosopo was re-signed by the Rams,[5] but was cut during the preseason. He was signed again and then released during preseason by the Rams the following year.[6]

Acting

Tuiasosopo turned to acting after his football career. His film debut was as Laikai "The Slender" Manumana in the 1991 sports comedy Necessary Roughness.[7] He took a leave of absence from McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, California for the film. Shortly afterwards, he co-starred in his first television series with Adam West as the strong-armed detective Al Hamoki for the Fox network called Danger Theatre.[8] He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Edmond Honda in the live action movie Street Fighter (1994),[9] which introduced a new origin for the character as that of a news cameraman instead of a sumo wrestler.[7] He also had roles in BASEketball, The Scorpion King, The Fast and the Furious, Austin Powers in Goldmember, 12 Rounds, Speedracer and Hawaii.[10]

Personal life and death

Tuiasosopo's uncle was Bob Apisa. His cousins were Manu Tuiasosopo, John Tautolo and Terry Tautolo. His second cousin was former NFL quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo.[11][12] His niece is American rower Lanea Tuiasosopo.[13][14]

Tuiasosopo died from heart complications in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 10, 2025, at the age of 61.[8]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Necessary RoughnessLaikai "The Slender" Manumana
1993Danger TheatreDetective Al Hamoki[7]
1994On Deadly GroundWorker #1
Street FighterE. Honda[2]
1996The Jamie Foxx ShowJackie Chin
1997Batman & RobinObservatory Guard[7]
1998BASEketballEd Tuttle[10]
2000Charlie's AngelsPink's Bodyguard[7]
2001The Fast and the FuriousBodyguard[15]
2002The Scorpion KingNight Gate Guard[10]
2008Speed RacerFuji Announcer #2[10]
200912 RoundsWillie Dumaine[7]
A Perfect GetawaySupply Guy
The Slammin' SalmonMiami Dolphin #1
2011Kickin' ItYoshi Nakamura
2011The Young and the RestlessKoaa[10]
2012Fun SizeMr. Mahani (Samoan Man)
2012–2016New GirlSteve and Big Bob[7]
2013NCISCharles Kang / Chucky BangEpisode: "Hereafter"[15]
2013Mob CityBig Oso
2015Ray DonovanSamoan Guard[15]
2015Black-ishOfficer Tuiasosopo[15]
2018Mayans MCAfa[15]
2021Magnum P.I.Manui Vasega[7]

References

  1. ↑ Pirozzi Jr., Anthony (February 27, 2025). "A Cherished San Pedro Original". San Pedro Today. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "R.I.P. Peter Navy Tuiasosopo, Street Fighter's E. Honda". AV Club. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Navy Tuiasosopo profile". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Transactions". Herald and Review. August 2, 1987. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Transactions". The Argus-Press. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Rams sign ex-aggie Tuiasosopo". Deseret News. July 29, 1989. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "'New Girl' and 'Magnum P.I.' actor Peter Navy Tuiasosopo dies at 61: 'An amazing life'". EW.com. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Petski, Denise (February 11, 2025). "Peter Navy Tuiasosopo Dies: 'Street Fighter', 'Necessary Roughness' Actor Was 61". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  9. ↑ "New Girl actor Peter Navy Tuiasosopo dies, aged 61". The Independent. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Peter Navy Tuiasosopo, 'Street Fighter' and 'Necessary Roughness' Actor, Dies at 61: He 'Lived an Amazing Life'". People. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Mike Tuiasosopo profile". Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Shrine Classic: A Family Affair for Cousins". Los Angeles Times. July 22, 1988. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  13. ↑ Black, Ryan (January 14, 2019). "Mike Tuiasosopo named K-State defensive tackles coach". The Mercury. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  14. ↑ Morales, Andy (June 1, 2019). "Former Ironwood Ridge standout Lanea Tuiasosopo named UCLA Scholar-Athlete of the Year; Trevor Werbylo earns Pac-12 Golf Honor". allsportstucson.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Rawls, Murjani (February 11, 2025). "'Street Fighter' actor, former NFL player dead at 61". nj. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
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