UPDATED 5/24/2023
Hawaii Five-O was a popular series that hit television screens in 1968, starring big names like Jack Lord, James MacArthur, Kam Fong, and many more that you will definitely remember. The show centered around the investigations by the elite branch of the Hawaii State Police, led byDetective Captain Steve McGarrett.
The series ran for a total 12 seasons, ending its run in 1980 with reruns of the show continuing today. A reboot of the series was created in 2010 and ran for 10 seasons until 2020. It’s clearly a popular one! Here’s the original cast of Hawaii Five-O. Do you remember these faces?
Jack Lord (Captain Steve McGarrett)
Jack Lord is best known for his role as Detective Captain Steve McGarrett, the tough-as-nails leader of the special state task force. He was a hard-hitting cop who was devoted to his job. Jack Lord really anchored this terrific series. Even if you didn’t watch it, you’ve definitely heard his catchphrase whenever he found his perp: “Book ‘em!” he would say to Danno. And to think Jack was a last minute network substitution, only getting the script days before the pilot shot.
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Jack Lord was born on December 30, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York and began spending summers at sea on cargo ships where he painted and sketched the landscapes he encountered. This sparked a lifelong love affair with painting. His start on TV came in 1952 through guest spots. Then, in ‘55 he got a role in a Gary Cooper-led flick, The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell. In 1957 he starred in Williamsburg: the Story of a Patriot, which has run daily at Colonial Williamsburg ever since, and the following year he once again co-starred with Cooper in the Man of the West, originally supposed to be a John Wayne vehicle. But it was 1962 that proved to be a banner year: he played CIA agent Felix Leiter in the first James Bond movie, Dr. No; following which ABC first gave Lord a chance to champion his own TV show, playing the titular lead as Stoney Burke the rodeo master for one 32-episode season.
Ultimately, his career defining role in Hawaii 5-O would be one of his final. Lord actually began to stay out of public eye due to his suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The last acting credit was in the 1980 TV movie M Station: Hawaii. He died later in 1998, but still has a slew of acting credits behind him such as his first film Project X in 1949, the TV series Gunsmoke in 1957, and the TV series Bonanza in 1960.
Art was Jack’s first love. He once said he began acting to make his name known, so he could sell his art. The plan worked, and by the time Hawaii Five-O ended and the rest of the cast parted ways, Jack was selling his art for thousands of dollars. His work has been displayed in museums around the world, including the Met and The Whitney Museum, both in New York City. Sadly, Jack Lord passed away in 1998 at the age of 77. A bronze bust of the actor was unveiled in a ceremony at the Kahala Mall in 2004. The nonprofit Jack Lord Memorial Fund raised the money for the memorial.
James MacArthur (Danny “Danno” Williams)
James MacArthur is best known for his role as Danny Williams, the younger second-in-command, “booking” the bad guys following McGarrett’s orders. He was a fantastic counterpart to Jack Lord, and unfortunately left the show after season 11, making the final 12th season a little anticlimactic.
As for MacArthur, as a baby he was adopted by playwright Charles MacArthur, who won an Academy Award in 1936 for Best Original Story for The Scoundrel. His mother was none other than famed actress Helen Hayes, nicknamed the “First Lady of American Theatre.”
James began acting at the age of 18 in 1955 in a television play. Then, in 1960, he landed a blockbuster role, playing Fritz Robinson in 1960’s The Swiss Family Robinson, one of the most successful family friendly films of all time. Fans might recall him from the 1963 Henry Fonda-led film Spencer’s Mountain, or as part of the star-studded cast of 1965’s Battle of the Bulge. MacArthur made some fantastic films before heading to Hawaii and the cast of Hawaii Five-O.
He also appeared in many other films and popular TV series throughout the decades, among them Bonanza in 1967, Murder, She Wrote in 1984, and his last acting credit in StormChasers: Revenge of the Twisterin 1998. He went on to other professional ventures, such as partially owning the Senior World Publication, where he would occasionally conduct celebrity interviews. He was also an avid golfer, even winning the 2002 Frank Sinatra Charity Golf Tournament.
He died of natural causes in 2010 at the age of 72. But he will live for as long as people keep saying, Book em Danno… so, forever.
Kam Fong (Chin Ho)
Kam Fong played the role of Chin Ho, a resourceful part of the squad, and certainly brought one of the saddest moments of the entire show when he was killed off in the finale of season 10. Fong was ready to depart the show, but many fans agree they were less ready to see him go.
The name Fong was actually the result of a teacher incorrectly directing him how to write his name, but it stuck and he later took it as his legal one; he was actually born Kam Tong Chun. He was a Honolulu, Hawaii native, which made him perfect for the role in Hawaii Five-O! Following high school, he worked as a boiler-maker in the Pearl Harbor shipyard and was there on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attack on the naval base shook America into a World War. Terribly, on June 8th, 1944, his first wife and two children were killed when two B-24 Liberators collided in mid-air and the burning wreckage fell onto the homes of his neighborhood. This compelled Fong to join the police force, where he served for 16 years
He only had two handfuls of acting credits throughout the decades, his first a film in 1958 calledGhost of the China Sea. In the meantime, he was a member of theHonolulu Police Department. His final acting credit was actually in the Hawaii Five-O TV movie in 1997 and he later passed away in 2002 from lung cancer. He was 84 and lived quite the remarkable life, as only Chin Ho could.
Herman Wedemeyer (Duke)
Duke was a Hawaii PD officer, later promoted to detective, Lukela entered the show for Seasons 5 through the end, even battling false accusations of police corruption. Wedemeyer was another Hawaiian born actor, and it’s worth noting, a Hawaiian football player, as he was very good at the sport. He played running back for St. Mary’s and was the 4th runner up for the Heisman trophy in 1945. “Squirmin’ Herman” could ball, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in ’79 as well as the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Hawaii Five-O was really his only acting work, besides one episode of Magnum PI. However, he was also involved in politics and was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 1968. He was later elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives, winning re-election in ’72. Sadly, Herman died in 1999 at the age of 72 after suffering a heart attack.
Zulu, or Gilbert Francis Lani Damian Kauhi (Kono)
Zulu is best remembered for playing the role of Kono, a main detective for the first four seasons. Similar to Kam Fong, Zulu did not have many acting credits under his belt given the time that he was in the acting business, and in fact started with stand-up comedy in Hawaii. Then, his first acting credit came about in 1968 with the filmI Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew. He also appeared in an episode of Charlie’s Angels and his final acting credit was in the Hawaii Five-O TV movie in 1997.
Unfortunately, Zulu left the show after growing frustrated by the “dumb Hawaiian” image he felt his character projected, in addition, there were off-camera conflicts with the show’s star, Jack Lord, who he described as a control freak who wouldn’t let his co-workers do anything
He passed away in 2004 from complications due to diabetes. Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered off of Waikiki.
Richard Denning (Paul Jameson / “The Governor”)
Richard Denning is remembered for one of his best roles,Gov. Paul Jameson. Denning was an incredibly well-versed actor, beginning his career in 1937 with a role in the film Hold ‘Em Navy, as well as 1948’s Unknown Island and 1954’s Creature From the Black Lagoon. Additionally, we saw him playing opposite Lucille Ball on the radio production that led to I Love Lucy,My Favorite Husband.
For almost two decades, Denning dedicated his acting career to strictly film, but slowly began branching out into TV series by the early 1950s with Mr. & Mrs. North, soared in The Flying Doctor in 1959, and then as the titular Michael Shayne the following year. His role in Hawaii Five-O was actually his second to last acting credit, and he died in 1998 from a heart attack at the age of 84.
Khigh Dhiegh (Wo Fat)
Khigh Dhiegh had a pretty steady acting career beginning in 1950 with the TV series Studio One in Hollywood.He continued a steady path of acting in both TV series and films, including the series Mission: Impossible from 1969 to 1970 and the film How to Murder Your Wife in 1965, which later made sense that he played a notorious TV villain, named Wo Fat, in Hawaii Five-O.
He continued acting until 1990 with the TV movie Forbidden Nights, then passed away the following year at age 81.
Peggy Ryan (Jenny Sherman)
Jenny Sherman was one of the secretaries at the Five-O task force. As for Peggy Ryan, she was an incredibly gifted musical performer and found stardom dancing alongside Singin’ in the Rain’s Donald O’Connor as Universal’s answer to Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney’s wave of success.
Her biggest motion picture role was in the Abbott & Costello 1945 musical comedy, Here Come the Co-eds. She later left movies altogether to focus on choreography. training Las Vegas showgirls in tap dancing. Her last public performance was at her own 80th birthday party. She continued teaching tap until her death in 2004 at age 80 after suffering two strokes.
Harry Endo (Che Fong)
Che Fong is the forensic specialist of the Five-0 task force, who usually knew a vital piece of the puzzle. Endo was working at a Hawaiian Bank and while being filmed in a bank commercial, he was approached to be an original cast member for 5-O. He didn’t do much besides part, with the exception of two episodes of Magnum PI and an episode of Jake and the Fatman in 1990.
He retired, moved to New York City and lived out the remainder of his years with his wife of over 60 years, until he died in 2009 at the age of 86 after suffering a stroke.
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FAQs
The Cast Of ‘Hawaii Five-O’ Then And Now 2023? ›
During an interview with TVLine, his absences were brought up, and Caan provided a personal reason reasoning for not joining those installments: To clarify that, I could've [been in all episodes] and made a lot more money. but I chose not to, so I could spend more time with my family. That's all that was about.
Why is Scott Caan not in every Hawaii Five-O episode? ›During an interview with TVLine, his absences were brought up, and Caan provided a personal reason reasoning for not joining those installments: To clarify that, I could've [been in all episodes] and made a lot more money. but I chose not to, so I could spend more time with my family. That's all that was about.
Does Steve McGarrett ever get married? ›We were told almost nothing of his personal life, except that he had told Rosemary Quong that he'd never been married ("Cocoon," Pilot).
Who are the guest stars on Hawaii Five-O season 5 episode 22? ›Kevin Farley, Jaleel White, and Pauly Shore guest-starred as a trio of tourists, taking a boys weekend to Hawaii to get away from their wives in "Ho'amoano" (Episode 22, Season 5).
Is McGarrett from Hawaii Five-O still living? ›John Joseph Patrick Ryan (December 30, 1920 – January 21, 1998), best known by his stage name, Jack Lord, was an American television, film and Broadway actor, director and producer. He starred as Steve McGarrett in the CBS television program Hawaii Five-O, which ran from 1968 to 1980.
Why did Chin and Kono leave? ›Original cast members Kim and Park – who played Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua respectively – both left at the end of season 7 after seeking pay equality with their white, male co-stars Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan.
Why was Kono fired from original Hawaii Five-O? ›In 1968, Zulu landed the role of the burly state police detective Kono on Hawaii Five-O. He was fired from the show after four seasons after disagreements with the show's publicist. Supposedly, a racial slur was used and Jack Lord had him fired.
Who does McGarrett end up with? ›Catherine (Michelle Borth), McGarrett's true love, magically appeared in the empty seat beside him and everything clicked into place. (After all, it was Catherine who helped crack the case that saved Danny's life.)
Do Danny and Rachel end up together? ›Danny later presumably joined the Newark Police Department and as a beat cop, met his future wife, Rachel Edwards who rear-ended his car to get his attention. The two got married and had a daughter, Grace Williams.
Does Catherine and McGarrett end up together? ›As for Catherine, she was written off with the explanation that she would stay back in Afghanistan to find the son of the man who saved her life. Post Season 4, she had made several guest appearances, like at Kono and Adam's wedding, shortly after which she and McGarrett decided to part ways for the final time.
Did Darius Rucker ever guest star on Hawaii Five-O? ›
Darius Rucker: Desmond Abati.
Who is the new girl on Hawaii Five-O? ›Meaghan Rath was born on 18 June 1986 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She is an actress and producer, known for Hawaii Five-0 (2010), New Girl (2011) and Schitt's Creek (2015). She has been married to. They have one child.
Was Peyton List in Hawaii Five-O? ›"Hawaii Five-0" Palekaiko (Paradise) (TV Episode 2010) - Peyton List as Erica Harris - IMDb.
What happened to Kamekona on Hawaii Five-O? ›Death. Kamekona was found dead in his Los Angeles, California, apartment on May 2, 1996, at age 60. He had been dead for several days in his bathroom, according to friends and family members. The cause of death was never revealed.
What happened to Ben Kokua in Hawaii Five-O? ›Harrington died at 85 in Honolulu, Hawaii, on September 21, 2021, after suffering a massive stroke.
Does Lou leave Hawaii Five-O? ›Captain Louis "Lou" Purnell Grover is a Chicago-born man who originally served as the captain of the Honolulu Police Department's SWAT team before retiring from his position for good in the aftermath of the events in the Season 4 finale episode, O ka Pili'Ohana ka 'Oi.
Does Kono ever come back? ›Daniel Dae Kim, who played Chin Ho Kelly, and Grace Park (Kono Kalakaua) will not be returning for the eighth season. CBS says fans will be updated on their characters in the season premiere on Friday, September 29.
Do Kono and Adam stay together? ›Adam appears in episode 6 and reveals to Tani that he and Kono broke up, depressing him and drank in order to help cope. Danny soon came around to help Adam through his pain as a divorced man himself and as a thank you for all of Adam's contributions, he is offered a job to become an officer in Five-0.
Does Grace Park really surf? ›Who Is The Pro? Director Duane Clarke Comments: "First scene, first day directing my first episode of HAWAII 5-0 (Kai e'e). The irony here is that Grace Park (Kono) is teaching Scott Caan (Danny) how to surf in this scene. But in real life, Grace does not know how to surf at all while Scott is an *excellent* surfer!
Is Zulu of Hawaii 50 still alive? ›Does Chin Ho Kelly died in season 7? ›
The character was killed off in the season ten finale, "A Death in the Family".
How was Kono written off Hawaii? ›Adam kills yakuza's men but later discovers that Gabriel has paid off his debt with the gang. Upset, Adam goes to the police with Kono and is sentenced to 18 months reclusion. At the end of season seven, Kono Kalakaua left Hawaii for Carson City, Nevada.
Why was Hawaii 5o Cancelled? ›Why did "Hawaii Five-0" get cancelled? Besides the fact that it's been on 10 whole years—a pretty lengthy amount of time—it seems there were a few behind-the-scenes factors, too. Deadline claimed Alex and Scott's contracts were up at the end of this season, which often jumpstarts an actor's exit.
What were McGarrett's last words? ›Ha is what gives aloha its deeper meaning, and in this case, it is a sharing of friendship and brotherhood. It wasn't until McGarrett says, “A hui hou,” which means “until we meet again” that really made his exit feel a little hopeful.
Who kills Doris McGarrett? ›In DNA Doris is infiltrating a drug cartel for the CIA. Steve is sent to find her but fails to save Doris, who is killed by the cartel's leader, Carmen Lucia Perez.
Who does Danny end up with? ›After finally seeing each other's perspectives and ending the show's titular beef, Amy and Danny fall in love.
Is Danny the father of Rachel's baby? ›At the end of Season 5, Rachel revealed that Charlie is actually Danny's son from when the two had an affair. She also revealed that Charlie had a serious illness. Thankfully, Danny was a match as a bone-marrow donor and saved his son's life.
Who does Rachel Pilot end up with? ›Rachel and Tino got engaged during the finale.
Fade in, fade out, Rachel and Tino profess their love to each other and Tino trades an engagement ring for Rachel's final rose. The two ended the series as a couple.
While Five-0 searches the island for a stolen nuclear warhead, Catherine returns to the island just in time to attend Kono and Adam's wedding. While Five-0 searches the island for a stolen nuclear warhead, Catherine returns to the island just in time to attend Kono and Adam's wedding.
What happened to Danny's girlfriend Melissa on Hawaii Five O? ›In 2013, after Frank again nearly killed her following an argument, Melissa Armstrong-Simpson filed a complaint to NYPD, and Frank was arrested on felony charges, while Melissa, obtaining a restraining order against him, flew to Hawaii and changed her name to Amber Vitale.
Is McGarrett on Hawaii Five O married? ›
Sometime during these years, he met his wife (Doris McGarrett). Together they had two children: Steve -whom John named after his father, who had died while serving on board the U.S.S.
Who does Nick Jonas play in Hawaii Five-O? ›Portrays. Nick Jonas (born September 16, 1992) is an American actor who portrayed Ian Wright on Hawaii Five-0.
Are any of the actors on Hawaii Five-O Hawaiian? ›Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalākaua were both born and raised in Hawaii; the assumption is they are part-Hawaiian. Kalākaua is a Hawaiian name (the last reigning King of Hawaii was David Kalākaua), while Chin speaks Hawaiian and is the team's expert on Hawaiian culture and protocol.
Who replaces Chin and Kono? ›More Stories by Lesley. After seeing original stars Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park exit following a salary standoff, CBS is adding three new series regulars to the cast of Hawaii Five-0. Joining the CBS procedural are Meaghan Rath, Beulah Koale and Ian Anthony Dale.
Are Jesse and Meaghan Rath twins? ›She has a younger brother, Jesse Rath, who is also an actor.
Who is Mary's baby on Hawaii Five O? ›Joan McGarrett is the adopted daughter of Mary McGarrett and niece of Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett.
Are Peyton List and Miranda May friends in real life? ›Miranda and Peyton is the cast relationship between Miranda May and Peyton List. They are costars of BUNK'D and are friends in real life.
Did Peyton List and Cameron Boyce date? ›Cameron Boyce (November 2012–April 2015)
Speculations abounded that Peyton and Cameron Boyce, the co-stars of the Disney Channel series Jessie began dating in November 2012. They were spotted frequently together after the show. Their relationship lasted for over two years.
In Ua Hala, Max gets shot by a woman, who killed Captain Fryer and was able to let out multiple leads for the Five-0 team like Fryer's killer being a woman and was injured by Fryer.
Why is Danny barely in Hawaii Five-O season 10? ›Scott Caan requested more time off from Hawaii Five-0
But Caan saw less screen time from Hawaii Five-0 because he requested it. The actor still lived in L.A. while filming Hawaii Five-0 and, as a result, he wanted more time to be back home with his family.
Why did Max leave Hawaii Five-O in season 7? ›
I wanted to be in L.A. or Japan and be more in control of my schedule, and my mother is not in the best health so I want to be here for her. If the show were in L.A., I'd love to stay on forever because it's the greatest gig in the world.
How many episodes of Hawaii Five-O is Scott Caan in? ›Scott Caan appeared in 208 of "Hawaii Five-0's" 240 episodes, which is impressive, though it's not surprising that fans would want to know why he didn't show up in more.
When did Danny leave the original Hawaii Five-O? ›In season twelve, the character was replaced by a new character, James Carew, who was portrayed by William Smith. MacArthur returned to reprise the role of Danny, who had become Hawaii's governor in the plot, in the 1997 unaired pilot of Hawaii Five-O.
What happens to Danny's daughter on Hawaii Five O? ›Season 9. In "A Bruise Inflicted on an Innocent Person Vanishes Quickly", Grace ends up in a car accident along with a friend and they all assume that she was responsible, but was proven otherwise and was welcomed home by the Five-0 team.
Why are there so many lost actors on Hawaii Five O? ›As previously mentioned, Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park were at the center of a pay disparity dispute with Hawaii Five-0 producers over reported discrepancies between their contracts and those of stars Alex O'Loughlin and and Scott Caan.
Why was Grace Park not in season 4 of Hawaii Five-O? ›Grace Park Talks About Leaving Hawaii Five-O: 'I Chose What Was Best for My Integrity' In 2017, Grace Park and Daniel Dae Kim left CBS's Hawaii Five-O reportedly over salary offers that did not match their white co-stars' pay.
Does Lou Grover leave Hawaii Five-O? ›Captain Louis "Lou" Purnell Grover is a Chicago-born man who originally served as the captain of the Honolulu Police Department's SWAT team before retiring from his position for good in the aftermath of the events in the Season 4 finale episode, O ka Pili'Ohana ka 'Oi.
Who replaced Kono and Chin on Hawaii Five-O? ›More Stories by Lesley. After seeing original stars Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park exit following a salary standoff, CBS is adding three new series regulars to the cast of Hawaii Five-0. Joining the CBS procedural are Meaghan Rath, Beulah Koale and Ian Anthony Dale.
Where is Hawaii Five-O filmed? ›The program was shot on location in Honolulu and throughout the island of Oahu–other islands in the state were also used for various scenes. The name of the show is derived from Hawaii being the 50th state of the United States.
How old is Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-O season 1? ›Steve is said to be fifteen or sixteen in 1992, which roughly corresponds with the fact that he was in BUD/S in the year 2000. A star quarterback, he attended the fictional Kukui High School before being sent to the Army and Navy Academy in California for his junior and senior years after the death of his mother.
Who is the bad guy in Hawaii Five-O? ›
Wo Fat (Chinese: 禾发) is the name of a fictional villain in the CBS series Hawaii Five-O. On the show, Wo Fat is the nemesis of Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord and Alex O'Loughlin), the head of Hawaii's (fictional) special task force, Five-O.
Do Danny and Rachel get back together in Hawaii Five-O? ›Rachel and Danno rekindled their love at the end of season one and almost moved back to New Jersey together. But Rachel reconciled with her husband Stan, and had another child, Charlie — ironically, delivered by Danno– who turned out to actually be Danno's son.
Will Hawaii Five-O ever return? ›Hawaii Five-0 is coming to an end after 10 seasons on CBS. The long-running action drama series will wrap everything up and bid its fans goodbye with a 2-hour series finale, airing April 4.
Was anyone from original Hawaii Five-O on new show? ›The CBS drama brought original McGarrett actor Jack Lord to life through the magic of CGI. Lord, who died in 1998, portrayed the Five-O hero for 12 seasons on the namesake series, which ran from 1968–1980 on CBS.