Cue up Morton Stevens’ indelible theme song.

What happened to the original cast of Hawaii Five-O? All about the stars’ lives after the show

Cue up Morton Stevens’ indelible theme song.

By Louis Peitzman

June 10, 2026 6:00 p.m. ET

James MacArthur, Al Harrington, and Jack Lord in the original 'Hawaii Five-O'. Credit:

Courtesy Everett Collection

Admit it, you can’t read the title *Hawaii Five-O* without hearing its theme song.

But there was more to the classic police procedural than Morton Stevens’ indelible music. *Hawaii Five-O* covered plenty of ground over the course of its 12 seasons. By the time the show wrapped in 1980, it was the last of the ‘60s scripted primetime series still airing on television.

The show’s one true constant was Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord), commander of Hawaii’s elite state police force known as the Five-O. For much of the series’ run, McGarrett had fellow officers Danny “Danno” Williams (James MacArthur) and Chin Ho Kelly (Kam Fong Chun) by his side.

These days, the memory of the original *Hawaii Five-O* may be somewhat clouded by the hit reboot *Hawaii Five-0* — note the zero replacing the “O” in the title — which ran for 10 seasons of its own from 2010 to 2020.

Still, the foundational show earns respect for its undeniable pop-culture impact, and we’re not just talking about introducing the catchphrase “Book ’em, Danno” into the lexicon. *Hawaii Five-O*, with its extensive exterior shots of Oʻahu, gave many Americans their first taste of the then-new state of Hawaii.

To celebrate the series, we’re taking a look back at the cast of *Hawaii Five-O* to find out what they got up to in the years after the show wrapped.

Jack Lord (Steve McGarrett)

Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett / Lord in New York City in 1985.

CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

There was never any question of who was in charge on *Hawaii Five-O* — or which actor defined the series. Jack Lord appeared in all 281 episodes as the committed, no-nonsense Captain McGarrett.

Lord got his start on stage and in episodes of classic shows like *Gunsmoke* and *Bonanza*. He was also the first actor to play James Bond’s pal, Felix Leiter — most recently played by Jeffrey Wright in the Daniel Craig era — in *Dr. No* (1962). His breakthrough, however, was unquestionably *Hawaii Five-O* six years later. He was also a producer on the series, and played an active role in casting native Hawaiian actors.

Despite his fame from the long-running show, Lord didn’t act after *Hawaii Five-O* ended, aside from a failed pilot for a series called *M Station: Hawaii*, which he directed and executive produced. It ended up airing as a TV movie on CBS.

The New York native made few public appearances, and spent the rest of his life in Hawaii. In a way, his quiet final years proved fitting for a man who once told *TV Guide*, “This show will be it for me. I’ll never leave the islands. They’ll have to carry me out.”

The longtime TV star died of congestive heart failure in 1998 at the age of 77, having suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for several years. He was survived by his wife, fashion designer Marie De Narde, to whom he had been married since 1949. Upon her death in 2005, Lord’s $40 million estate was bequeathed to Hawaiian charities.

It’s worth noting that Lord did make a posthumous cameo on the *Hawaii Five-0* reboot, on which Alex O’Loughlin played the Steve McGarrett role. The show used CGI to resurrect the actor, who appeared as a retired cop named, appropriately enough, Jack Lord.

James MacArthur (Danno Williams)

James MacArthur as Danno / MacArthur at Big Apple Con in 2006.

CBS via Getty; Bobby Bank/WireImage

When McGarrett closed episodes with his signature “Book ’em, Danno,” he was speaking to Detective Sergeant Williams, a young but driven member of the Five-O Task Force.

Tim O’Kelly played Danno in the pilot before being replaced by James MacArthur when the series was picked up. MacArthur was the son of playwright Charles MacArthur and “First Lady of American Theatre” Helen Hayes, so it’s no surprise he also got his start on the stage.

In his twenties, MacArthur became a Disney star in adventure films like *Kidnapped* (1960) and *Swiss Family Robinson* (1960). Most audiences, however, remember him for *Hawaii Five-O*, since he starred on 11 seasons — and played the character associated with the series’ signature catchphrase.

“It wasn’t anything we really thought about at first,” MacArthur told *The Chicago Tribune* in 2007. “But the phrase just took off and caught the public’s imagination. The culture grabbed it, and it’s been around ever since.”

MacArthur left *Hawaii Five-O* before its final season to pursue other opportunities, though that mostly consisted of guest starring on the likes of *The Love Boat*, *Fantasy Island*, and *Murder, She Wrote*.

He also returned to play Dan Williams, now governor of Hawaii, in a 1997 pilot for a new *Hawaii Five-O* that didn’t get picked up.

The veteran actor was in talks to guest star as a different character on the first season of the 2010 reboot, but he died before he could film the episode. He was 72. MacArthur left behind his third wife, Helen Beth Duntz, and four children.

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Kam Fong Chun (Chin Ho Kelly)

Kam Fong Chun as Chin Ho Kelly in the 'Hawaii Five-O' pilot.

For the role of veteran detective Chin Ho Kelly, producers opted for authenticity by casting former Honolulu cop Kam Fong Chun. A 16-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department, Chun auditioned for the role of recurring villain Wo Fat, but was cast as one of the good guys instead.

Prior to the series, Chun had appeared in a handful of movies, including *Ghost of the China Sea* (1958) and *Gidget Goes Hawaiian* (1961), but *Hawaii Five-O* was by far his most sizable role. He appeared in the first 10 seasons before asking to have his character killed off. According to his *New York Times* obituary, he felt the scripts had begun to get stale.

That didn’t stop Chun from reprising his role in the failed 1997 reboot. That pilot episode ended up being the actor’s final onscreen appearance. He died of lung cancer in 2002 at age 84.

Chun’s first wife, Esther, died as the result of a plane crash that also claimed the lives of their two children. He married Gladys Lindo in 1949, and went on to have four more children. His son, Dennis Chun, ended up playing Sergeant Duke Lukela on the reboot series.

Zulu (Kono Kalakaua)

Zulu as Kono Kalakaua / Zulu in 'Charlie's Angels' in 1981.

BS via Getty; ABC

Another native of Hawaii, Zulu — born Gilbert Francis Lani Damian Kauhi — rounded out the Five-O task force as Detective Kalakaua. Zulu had limited acting experience, having made a name for himself on the island as a singer, comedian, and Waikiki beach boy.

The character of Kono appeared on 99 episodes, with Zulu departing after the fourth season. He was reportedly let go after a dust-up with the show’s publicist.

As with costars MacArthur and Chun, Zulu did appear in the 1997 reboot pilot. It was one of his few acting roles after the original series. He also guested on episodes of *Charlie’s Angels* and *Magnum, P.I.*

Zulu died of complications from diabetes in 2004 at age 66.

“I have many happy memories of Zulu," MacArthur told *The Honolulu Advertiser* at the time. “On *Five-O*, he helped us understand how to say those Hawaiian words. I’ll miss him.”

Richard Denning (Paul Jameson)

Richard Denning as Paul Jameson in season 5 of 'Hawaii Five-O'.

Much like Steve McGarrett, Governor Jameson was a fixture through *Hawaii Five-O*’s 12-season run. Richard Denning ended up appearing in 74 episodes.

Denning had quite a career before joining the procedural, with film credits dating back to the 1930s. He was well known to audiences for his radio work, having starred alongside Lucille Ball on *My Favorite Husband*, the CBS Radio sitcom that evolved into *I Love Lucy*, sans Denning’s involvement.

The actor was also a science-fiction star, appearing in films like *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (1954) and *Creature with the Atom Brain* (1955), along with non-genre fare such as *An Affair to Remember* (1957).

When the New York native was cast as Paul Jameson, he had retired to Hawaii. The series introduced the longtime veteran to a new, younger audience, though it ended up being his last substantial role. After the show ended, his only subsequent credit was the TV movie *The Asphalt Cowboy* (1980).

Denning was married to his first wife, actress Evelyn Ankers, from 1942 until her death in 1985. The couple had one daughter. He married Patricia Leffingwell in 1986, and spent the rest of his life with her. Denning died in 1998 at age 84.

Peggy Ryan (Jenny Sherman)

Peggy Ryan as Jenny Sherman / Ryan at an MGM Tribute event in Connecticut in 1995.

Paramount+; Derek Storm/FilmMagic

During the first season of *Hawaii Five-O*, McGarrett was aided by a secretary named May, played by Maggi Parker. That actress, who appeared in 14 episodes, is still kicking at 99.

But the longer-tenured secretary role on the show went to Peggy Ryan as Jenny, a fixture from 1969 to 1976.

Ryan was best known for her performances in movie musicals alongside dance partner Donald O’Connor. The two could be seen in films like *Mister Big* (1943), *Chip Off the Old Block* (1944), and *Bowery to Broadway* (1944). She made her last movie, *All Ashore* with Mickey Rooney, in 1953.

Like Denning, Ryan was semi-retired and living in Hawaii when she was cast on *Hawaii Five-O*. At the time, she was married to her third husband, newspaper columnist Eddie Sherman, which may be how Jenny earned her surname.

After she left the series, Ryan only appeared onscreen twice more — first in the TV movie *Pleasure Palace* (1980) and then on a 1983 episode of *Simon & Simon*.

Ryan died in 2004 at age 80, having endured two strokes. She was survived by Sherman, as well as two children. Another child, a son from her first marriage, died in 1987.

Glenn Cannon (John Manicote)

Glenn Cannon as John Manicote / Cannon in season 1 of 'Lost'.

Paramount+; Disney+

Like other Hawaii-based actors, Glenn Cannon ended up playing multiple parts on *Hawaii Five-O* before stepping into the recurring role of Attorney General Manicote in season 4.

Cannon had been in Hawaii since becoming a professor of theater at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in 1968. Prior to that, he’d appeared on episodes of *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*, *The Outer Limits*, and *Combat*.

His 33 episodes of *Hawaii Five-O* turned out to be Cannon’s longest stint on television, though he also appeared on 14 episodes of *Magnum, P.I.* in the ‘80s. Clearly, shows filmed in Hawaii were a draw, as his final work was a handful of episodes of *Lost*.

While acting may have been one of his passions, he spent 45 years teaching theater, and also directed local theater productions.

Cannon died in 2013 at age 80. He was survived by his wife, Samsil, and their son.

Herman Wedemeyer (Duke Lukela)

Herman Wedemeyer as Duke Lukela on 'Hawaii Five-O'.

Herman Wedemeyer appeared in the pilot, but as a character named Lieutenant Balta. It wasn’t until he joined the task force as Duke in season 5 that he became part of the main cast.

Wedemeyer, who was born in Honolulu, was an accomplished college football player at St. Mary’s College. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

In terms of acting, however, his career was very limited. Before he played Duke, he had an uncredited role in the film *The Hawaiians* (1970), and afterward he appeared in a single episode of *Magnum, P.I.*

While *Hawaii Five-O* was filming, Wedemeyer was also serving as a politician. He was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 1968, and then to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 1970 and 1972.

Wedemeyer would have reprised the role of Duke if the 1997 *Hawaii Five-O* reboot had gone to series. Like several of his costars, he had a part in the pilot, which ended up being his final acting gig.

He died in 1999 due to complications from a heart attack. He was 74 years old and left behind his wife, Carol, six children, 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Al Harrington (Ben Kokua)

Al Harrington as Ben Kokua / Harrington at a Sunset on the Beach event in 2019 in Waikiki.

Paramount+; Darryl Oumi/Getty

Duke didn’t join the task force on his own — there was also Detective Kokua, a character brought on as a replacement for the departing Kono. He was played by Samoan-American actor Al Harrington.

Before the show, Harrington was primarily known as a dancer, though he also spent some time teaching history, namely at the University of Hawaii. He was well known to Hawaiians as an entertainer in Waikiki, where he earned the nickname “The South Pacific Man.”

In terms of recognition beyond his home state, of course, it was his three-season stint on *Hawaii Five-O* that exposed him to a wide audience. After his time on the show ended, he showed up on a number of other popular series, including *Charlie’s Angels*, *The Jeffersons*, and *Magnum, P.I.*

As one of the last surviving actors from the original series, Harrington landed a recurring role on the reboot, playing Mamo Kahike in 10 episodes from 2011 to 2018. His final role was as Uncle John on another reboot, *Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.*, for a handful of episodes in 2021.

In 2021, Harrington died from stroke complications at 85. He was survived by wife, Rosa Harrington, four children, and many more grandchildren.

“​​He loved his community and even more, his culture,” Rosa said in a statement upon his death. “It was his greatest honor to represent his people on-screen, and to serve them off-screen.”

Harry Endo (Che Fong)

Harry Endo as Che Fong in 'Hawaii Five-O'.

The character of forensic examiner Che Fong was played by a couple of different actors before Harry Endo took over the part. Endo went on to hold the role from seasons 2 through 10, appearing in over 100 episodes.

“​​The rest of us actors were very happy we didn’t have to have his dialogue with all of those $12 words,” costar Doug Mossman told *The Honolulu Advertiser*, noting that Fong was meant to be a “forensic genius.” “I’d look at the script and say, ‘I’m glad I'm not saying that.’”

Che was by far Endo’s largest role. After his time on the series ended, he showed up in episodes of *Murder, She Wrote*, *Magnum, P.I.*, and *Jake and the Fatman*. As with his costars, his final performance was in the failed 1997 reboot.

Endo suffered a stroke and died in 2009 at age 86. He and his wife, Myrtle, were married for over 60 years and had two children.

Where can I watch Hawaii Five-O?

*Hawaii Five-O* is currently available to stream on Paramount+.

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