Peter Tuiasosopo

Peter "Navy" Tuiasosopo (May 24, 1963 – 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.

Peter Tuiasosopo
Born	(1963-05-24)May 24, 1963 San Pedro, California, U.S.
Died	February 10, 2025(2025-02-10) (aged 61) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1992–2025
Spouse	Cheryl D. Leonard
American football career
No. 68
Position:	Center
Personal information
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	285 lb (129 kg)
Career information
High school:	Phineas Banning (Wilmington, California)
College:	Utah State
Undrafted:	1987
Career history
St. Louis Cardinals (1987)[i] Los Angeles Rams (1987–1988) undrafted free agent
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 3 Stats at Pro Football Reference

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 years

Tuiasosopo was born and raised in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, as one of seven children.^[1] 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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^{[citation needed]}

In 1988, Tuiasosopo was re-signed by the Rams,^[4] but was cut during the preseason. He was again signed and then released during preseason by the Rams the following year.^[5]

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.^[6] He took a leave of absence from McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, California for the film. Shortly afterwards,^[when?] 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.^[7] He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Edmond Honda in the live action movie Street Fighter (1994),^[8] which introduced a new origin for the character as that of a news cameraman instead of a sumo wrestler.^[6] He also had roles in BASEketball, The Scorpion King, The Fast and the Furious, Austin Powers in Goldmember, 12 Rounds, Speedracer and Hawaii.^[9]

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.^[10][11] His niece is American rower Lanea Tuiasosopo.^[12][13]

Tuiasosopo died from heart complications in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 10, 2025, at the age of 61.^[7]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1991	Necessary Roughness	Laikai "The Slender" Manumana
1993	Danger Theatre	Detective Al Hamoki	[6]
1994	On Deadly Ground	Worker #1
	Street Fighter	E. Honda	[1]
1996	The Jamie Foxx Show	Jackie Chin
1997	Batman & Robin	Observatory Guard	[6]
1998	BASEketball	Ed Tuttle	[9]
2000	Charlie's Angels	Pink's Bodyguard	[6]
2001	The Fast and the Furious	Bodyguard	[14]
2002	The Scorpion King	Night Gate Guard	[9]
2008	Speed Racer	Fuji Announcer #2	[9]
2009	12 Rounds	Willie Dumaine	[6]
	A Perfect Getaway	Supply Guy
	The Slammin' Salmon	Miami Dolphin #1
2011	Kickin' It	Yoshi Nakamura
2011	The Young and the Restless	Koaa	[9]
2012	Fun Size	Mr. Mahani (Samoan Man)
2013	NCIS	Charles Kang / Chucky Bang	Episode: "Hereafter"[14]
2013	New Girl	Big Bob and Steve S2Ep10	[6]
2013	Mob City	Big Oso
2015	Ray Donovan	Samoan Guard	[14]
2015	Black-ish	Officer Tuiasosopo	[14]
2018	Mayans MC	Afa	[14]
2021	Magnum P.I.	Manui Vasega	[6]