Al Harrington, Hawaii Five-O Actor, Dies at 85

Actor Al Harrington has passed away at the age of 85. Harrington was best known for his role as Detective Ben Kokua in the original run of CBS’s Hawaii Five-O. His most recent role was the character Uncle John in the Disney+ series Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. Throughout his career, Harrington has participated in multiple TV shows and films, including Forrest Gump and White Fang 2.

Born in America Samoa, Harrington moved to Honolulu at the age of three. Throughout high school, he proved himself to be a talented actor and football player. Harrington obtained a history degree from Stanford University and later returned to Honolulu to teach at the University of Hawaii. Harrington first appeared in Hawaii Five-O in 1972 and stayed on for three seasons. Continuing his acting career, Harrington later took up roles in popular series such as CBS’s Magnum, P.I., The Jeffersons, ABC’s Charlie’s Angels, and NBC’s Scrubs. He also participated in the 2010 series reboot Hawaii Five-0, in the recurring role of Mamo Kahike.

TheWrap reports that Harrington suffered a stroke last week and passed away on Tuesday. His death was confirmed by a representative for the actor. Harrington’s death prompted an outpouring of tribute messages on social media from fans, friends, and co-stars, including one from actor Daniel Dae Kim, one of the stars of the Hawaii Five-0 reboot. Actor and comedian Ronny Chieng, who played opposite Harrington in Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., also posted a heartfelt message. View the posts from the actors below:

Harrington was a beloved actor in Hawaii, and received the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. He is survived by his wife Rosa Harrington who in a statement to TheWrap called her late husband “a noble, compassionate, patient and gentleman with a witty sense of humor and a larger-than-life laugh.” Harrington’s long-time agent, Gregory David Mayo, also released a statement to the publication adding that Harrington was “truly a special child of God.” Harrington is also survived by daughters Summer and Cassi, sons Alem and Tau, and several grandchildren.

Although both iterations of Hawai Five-O have ended, the re-runs of the 1968 original continue to air on CBS and other channels throughout the world, forever memorializing Harrington’s legacy and reminding fans of the actor’s talent. His latest appearances in Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. introduced him to a new generation, which is sure to love the actor and his characters just as much as previous fans have. Harrington also leaves behind an incredible legacy for Hawaii, a state whose culture is often underrepresented in media. The impact of Harrington’s career is sure to be an inspiration for future actors and will hopefully lead to the development of more roles and productions that elevate Hawaii and its culture.

Source: TheWrap

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