What Life Looked Like For The Original Cast Of Hawaii Five-O After The Show Ended

In the '60s, networks were on the lookout for their next procedural phenomenon. With classics like "Perry Mason" and "Dragnet" becoming popular television hits, CBS sought out a new series in the genre with a distinct premise. Then along came "Hawaii Five-O" in 1968, a crime drama that followed a Hawaii-based police unit tackling various crimes along the Pacific. Unlike its competitors "Adam-12" and "Columbo," "Hawaii Five-O" progressively tackled societal issues that Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians commonly faced. What resulted was a 12-season spectacle that boasted an illustrious cast of actors bound for future success.

Whether it was Jack Lord or Peggy Ryan, we grew fond of our favorite on-screen regulars. In turn, this made viewers attentive to what the actors would do after the series ended. Naturally, life looked different for each cast member. Some withdrew themselves from the limelight to pursue a career elsewhere, while others remained notable names in Hollywood. As of 2026, most of them are no longer with us, but the success of Hawaii Five-O as a franchise kept their legacies intact. After over four decades since the series finale — aside from its various reboots and adaptations — let's look at what each of the original "Hawaii Five-O" cast members' lives looked like after the show ended.

As the show's leading man, Jack Lord thrived as the no-nonsense, commanding police officer Steve McGarrett in "Hawaii Five-O." Lord had a strong career beforehand but nothing like his 12-season run on the CBS original. Despite his success, Lord showed signs of burnout in 1978. However, according to his interview with journalist Nancy Anderson, it wasn't enough for him to retire from acting altogether (via Remind Magazine). "I'll never retire. I'm a worker. I was exposed to the work ethic very early in my life and accepted it, so I'll work until I die," Lord said.

To an extent, this statement remained true, just not in Hollywood. Lord and his wife, Marie De Narde, became dedicated philanthropists. One of their philanthropic ventures was a $50,000 donation to the Hawaiian Community Foundation to help Honolulu communities thrive. According to Honolulu Magazine, Lord was also involved in various Hawaii-focused causes, such as St. Francis Healthcare Foundation, The Salvation Army, Variety School of Hawai'i, and more. As a retired actor, Lord put his creative energy into fine art, a passion that got him featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum. In 1998, Lord sadly died at home in Honolulu at 77 years old from congestive heart failure. "Jack loved acting and these islands," Marie told Variety. "Throughout all our years here, he was blessed with kindness, affection, and support from many fans and friends."

James MacArthur sustained great success portraying Steve McGarrett's trusted young deputy, Danny "Danno" Williams, in "Hawaii Five-O." James, however, grew tired of the CBS series' creative direction, prompting him to leave after Season 11. Afterward, he made guest appearances in "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island." His television appearances eventually grew sparser as he transitioned into theater. 

Having been raised by notable playwrights Charles MacArthur and Helen Hayes, James went on to follow in his parents' footsteps. According to Broadway World, James became "an ardent champion" of the theater community in Washington, D.C., and he served as a board member of the Helen Hayes Awards — named after his mother — since 1983. His various theater credits included "The Hasty Heart," "The Front Page," and "A Bed Full of Foreigners." Alongside acting, James also enjoyed several other hobbies, like skiing, golfing, and, interestingly enough, playing the flamenco guitar. In 2010, James sadly passed away. According to his agent, Richard Lewis, James died due to natural causes (via People). James was 72 years old when he died and was survived by his wife, Helen Beth Duntz, as well as his tribe of children and grandchildren. 

Life mirrored real life when Kam Fong depicted the dependable Detective Chin Ho Kelly in "Hawaii Five-O." Fong himself never set out to be an actor. With only a few uncredited roles under his belt, from "Ghost of the China Sea" to "Gidget Goes Hawaiian," Fong was better known for his work within the Honolulu Police Department. He retired in 1960 and worked in other fields, like real estate and radio, before stumbling into acting. Fong originally auditioned for the role of Wo Fat, but showrunners preferred him as Chin Ho Kelly.

His 10-season stint on "Hawaii Five-O" was a prominent highlight in Fong's career. So, it's easy to assume he'd find similar success in another show. However, after appearing in "Magnum, P.I." and "Goodbye Paradise" — and even reprising his role as Chin Ho Kelly in the 1997 "Hawaii Five-O" movie — Fong left Hollywood. Not much was known about his whereabouts after "Hawaii Five-O" until 2002. That year, Fong died peacefully in Honolulu at 84 years old due to complications from lung cancer. In 2013, the Honolulu Police Department celebrated Fong's career as an actor and police officer, inducting him into the Honolulu Police Department Hall of Fame.

Gilbert "Zulu" Kauhi found acting success portraying the burly Detective Kono Kalakaua in "Hawaii Five-O." Acting, however, wasn't his main career. Although he later appeared in "Charlie's Angels" and "The Little People," Zulu became a prominent nightclub performer. He saw his most lucrative stint in 1971 when he signed a $2.5-million contract with C'est Si Bon Showroom at the Pagoda Hotel. Since leaving "Hawaii Five-O" in 1972, he upheld this lifestyle well enough that it eclipsed his acting career entirely. This wouldn't come without controversy, as the reason Zulu left "Hawaii Five-O" was due to an altercation he had with the show's publicist.

Moreover, in 1986, Zulu was convicted of second-degree negligent homicide after he struck and killed Hawaiian triathlete Ronny Lee Fennell. Zulu's health soon deteriorated as well, culminating in his death in 2004. By his mother's account, Zulu experienced kidney issues and suffered numerous strokes in 1994. In 2004, Zulu eventually passed away due to complications from diabetes at 66 years old. Per Zulu's request, his family arranged for him to be buried in Waikiki. "He had always stressed to me that he wanted to be buried in Waikiki," his mother told the Honolulu Advertiser. "He wanted a beachboy funeral."

In 1972, Al Harrington played Detective Ben Kokua on "Hawaii Five-O" to make up for Gilbert "Zulu" Kauhi's departure. As a result, Al became a regular on the CBS series, which catapulted his acting career forward. He experienced a great deal of success after "Hawaii Five-O," as he joined the casts of "Forrest Gump," "The Jeffersons," and "Scrubs" in the following years. Unlike his peers, Al remained an actor well into the 2010s. One of his biggest highlights during this time was his appearance as Mamo Kahike in the revived 2011 "Hawaii Five-0" series. His last role was in 2021 as Uncle John in "Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.," which is unfortunately the same year Al would pass away.

It was reported that Al died from complications of a stroke. This was heartbreaking news not only for his fans but for his wife, Rosa Harrington, who celebrated Al and his legacy in a statement. "Al was truly a gift from God. A noble, compassionate, patient, and gentle man with a witty sense of humor and a larger-than-life laugh that will echo in my heart until we are reunited ... It was his greatest honor to represent his people on-screen, and to serve them off-screen," she wrote (via People). "To know him was to feel seen, loved, safe, and welcomed. As an icon for Hawai'i, our islands, and her people are mourning his loss."

As notable as his role was as Duke Lukela in "Hawaii Five-O," Herman Wedemeyer's legacy extended far beyond his acting career. In Hawaii, Wedemeyer was a celebrated football player who, due to his time as a running back for St. Mary's College in California, was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1979. He also thrived as a politician, serving one term on the Honolulu City Council in 1968 and two terms in the state House of Representatives from 1970 to 1974. That said, Wedemeyer's on-screen work only added to his decorated career. Once "Hawaii Five-O" ended, he continued to lead a simple life as a family man and, interestingly, a golfer.

Although his days as an athlete were behind him, Wedemeyer was heavily involved in his local golf community, like the Makaha Valley Golf Club. As an amateur golfer himself, he also organized and announced golf tournaments. However, in 1999, Wedemeyer died from complications following a heart attack at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. According to his longtime friend, Byron Feldman, Wedemeyer had a history of heart issues and underwent heart bypass surgery in 1998. Wedemeyer had a long list of surviving family members, all of whom included his wife, Carol, his brother, Charlie, his six children, and his numerous grandchildren.

Before portraying Governor Paul Jameson in "Hawaii Five-O," Richard Denning was a prominent actor who appeared in shows such as "Mr. & Mrs. North" and "The Flying Doctor." He was also one of Lucille Ball's former co-stars on their radio program, "My Favorite Husband," which set the foundation for "I Love Lucy." After filming "Twice-Told Tales" in 1963, Denning retired from acting, though he still took on minor roles here and there. By Denning's account, his wife, Evelyn Ankers, recommended they relocate to Maui. "My wonderful wife suggested that, since we had worked and saved together since our marriage, perhaps the time had come to do the things we really enjoyed and at a comfortable tempo," Denning said (via The Independent). "Hawaii Five-O" dragged him out of retirement, but not for too long, as he resumed his life as a retired actor after the show ended in 1980. 

In Maui, Denning was involved in his local community. He promptly became an executive director of the Boy Scouts of America. Denning also served as an honorary president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce. Sadly, on October 11, 1998, Denning died at 85 years old while visiting relatives in Southern California. He lived with emphysema and died from complications of a cardiac arrest. Buried at Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao, Hawaii, Denning remains a well-renowned figure in his Maui community.

As someone who had been acting since the 1940s, Al Eben was already an established actor when he portrayed the recurring medical examiner, Doc Bergman, in "Hawaii Five-O." His career saw him appear alongside the cast of "The Beverly Hillbillies," as well as "Petticoat Junction" and "Charlie's Angels." Once he left "Hawaii Five-O" in 1979, Al seemingly disappeared from the limelight entirely. 

Although Al made sporadic appearances in the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Corky Romano" in the late '90s to early 2000s, he never made a full-fledged return to acting. Unfortunately, in 2003, Al died in Los Angeles, California, at 88 years old. Information about his death remain undisclosed, but according to his obituary, he led a low-key life reading to children and working with the Santa Monica Emeritus Players. At the time of his death, Al was survived by his wife, Sylvia Kunin Eben, his son, Barry Eben, his daughter-in-law, Beverly Winter-Eben, as well as several step-grandchildren and other members of his extended family.

In "Hawaii Five-O," Harry Endo played Che Fong. As the dedicated forensic scientist of the Hawaii police department, Fong was the crucial element McGarrett's team needed to solve their various cases. Although he was a prominent character on the show, his stint on the CBS series was sudden. He was discovered after appearing in a Territorial Savings Bank commercial in Hawaii. Harry maintained his abrupt acting career for a short while after "Hawaii Five-O" ended. After appearing in "Murder, She Wrote," "Magnum, P.I." and "Jake and the Fatman," he eventually retired from acting altogether, trading in his life in the limelight for a more peaceful family life in Brooklyn, New York. 

Unfortunately, Harry died in 2009 at 89 years old. He suffered a stroke and was later pronounced dead at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Former "Hawaii Five-O" actor Doug Mossman recognized him for his humility, stating, "He was such a nice guy," per the Honolulu Advertiser. According to his obituary, he was survived by his wife, Myrtle Endo, his daughter, Leslie Baker, and his son, Scott Endo.

With a career dating back to post-World War II, Peggy Ryan rose to prominence through her innate talent for dance. As a result, she became the face of various projects from the 1940s onward. These included "Mister Big," "Bowery to Broadway," and "Shamrock Hill." Interestingly, her stint as Five-O headquarters secretary Jenny Sherman in "Hawaii Five-O" succeeded the peak of her career by nearly two decades. Her role in "Hawaii Five-O" eventually became a career highlight, as she remained a regular cast member until 1976. Following this, Ryan appeared in the '80s detective show "Simon & Simon" and TV movie "Pleasure Palace" before retiring from acting altogether. 

Her passion for performing remained. As noted in the 1996 book, "Booking Hawaii Five-O: An Episode Guide and Critical History of the 1968-1980 Television Detective Series," Ryan became a dancer based in Las Vegas. She maintained this job until her death in 2004. At 80, Ryan died following complications of two strokes. Her close friend, Dottie Fusch, noted her work ethic, stating she was working before she was hospitalized. Ryan was survived by her tribe of family members, including her daughter, Kerry English, her son, Sean Sherman, and her five grandchildren.

Glenn Cannon frequently played guest roles in earlier seasons of "Hawaii Five-O." However, in Season 4, Glenn became a series regular as the no-nonsense district attorney, John Manicote, and remained until Season 9. While his role was small, "Hawaii Five-O" was enough to launch him into stints on "Magnum P.I.," "Island Son," and "Jake and the Fatman."

After relocating to Hawaii in the late '60s, Glenn worked as a member of the theater department at the University of Hawai'i. As a teacher and director, Glenn spearheaded many of the institute's theater productions for decades. After a brief stint alongside the cast of "Lost" in 2004, Glenn shifted his focus to teaching in his later years. His work didn't go unnoticed, as he won several awards, such as the Pierre Bowman Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. On April 20, 2013, Glenn tragically died at Straub Hospital in Honolulu at 80 years old. Close friends and family didn't disclose his cause of death to the public, but many remembered Glenn for being a master of his craft. Cannon was survived by his wife, Samsil Cannon, his son, Caleb Cannon, and his granddaughter, Kassidy.

Not many can say they've had the distinct success Moe Keale had. Although he spent the earlier seasons playing small roles on "Hawaii Five-O," he joined the final season as Detective Truck Kealoha. "Hawaii Five-O" successfully launched Moe into future guest spots in shows like "Magnum, P.I." and "Marker." Despite his acting achievements, however, Moe's career as a musician was far more notable. The ukulele specialist released albums throughout the '80s and '90s, including "South Sea Island Magic" and "Aloha Is a Part of Me, A Part of You," becoming a legendary musical figure in Hawaiian culture. He even inspired his nephew, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, to become a musician himself. To this day, Kamakawiwo'ole is considered one of the greatest Hawaiian musicians of all time. 

The same is said for Moe, who, in 2002, sadly died of a heart attack at 62 years old. He was survived by his wife, Carole Keale, and his son, Scott Nālani Keale. Moe's legacy is still celebrated in Hawaii through the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards — Hawaii's equivalent to the Grammys, which named the prestigious Aloha Is award after Keale in 2003. The Moe Keale Aloha Is award remains a prominent staple of the awards ceremony, with the most recent recipient being Roy Sakuma in 2026.