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Peter "Navy" Tuiasosopo (born May 24, 1965) is an American actor known for his roles as E. Honda in Universal Pictures Street Fighter and Manumana in the Paramount Pictures film Necessary Roughness. He also played custodian Yoshi Nakamura in the Disney TV show Kickin It. He is a former American football center in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at Utah State University.

Early years

Tuiasosopo attended Taper Avenue Elementary and Phineas Banning High School in the Wilmington section of Los Angeles. 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.

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.

After the players went on a strike on the third week of the 1987 season, those games were canceled (reducing the 16-game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. In September, he was signed to be a part of the Los Angeles Rams replacement team. He started 3 games at center and was released after the strike ended.

On March 7, 1988, he was re-signed by the Los Angeles Rams. He was cut before the season started. On July 29, 1989, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams. He was released before the start of the season.

Acting

Tuiasosopo is perhaps best known for playing the role of E. Honda in the live action movie Street Fighter along with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raúl Juliá.

His first motion picture film role was Manumana "the Slender", the committed and respectful center on the fictional reconstructed Texas State "Fighting Armadillos" football team in the 1991 film Necessary Roughness. Tuiasosopo took a leave of absence from McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, California for the film. Shortly afterwards, he co-starred in his first television series with original television Batman Adam West as the strong-armed detective Al Hamoki for the Fox network called Danger Theatre. Tuiasosopo had another film role as Willie Dumaine in 12 Rounds along with WWE wrestler John Cena. He also had a part in the NCIS season 10 episode "Hereafter" as Charles Kang / Chucky Bang. He also played in the Disney TV show Kickin It as a custodian and an ex-sumo wrestler named Yoshi Nakamura.

Filmography

Personal life

Tuiasosopo was born and raised in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California. His father was U.S. Army (27 years) and U.S. Postal Service retired Manavaalofa Petelo "Sgt. Pete" Tuiasosopo (1935–2008) of Fagatogo, American Samoa and mother Registered Nurse (30 years) retired Silaulala "Sheila" Lealoa Alofaituli (1927–2007) of Vatia, American Samoa. He is one of seven children: Brothers Mike Tuiasosopo, the professional football coach, Andrew Tuiasosopo (Carson, California) and sisters Jean Redondo (Long Beach, California), Aavonda Gonzales (San Pedro, California), Aaleslie Speake (deceased), Aaona Speake (deceased) and Adaline Aure (Bellingham, Washington).

Tuiasosopo's uncle is Bob Apisa. His cousins are Manu Tuiasosopo, John Tautolo and Terry Tautolo. His second cousin is Marques Tuiasosopo. His niece is American rower Lanea Tuiasosopo.

References

1. "Navy Tuiasosopo profile". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
2. "Transactions". Herald and Review. August 2, 1987. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
3. "Transactions". The Argus-Press. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
4. "RAMS SIGN EX-AGGIE TUIASOSOPO". Deseret News. July 29, 1989. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
5. "Mike Tuiasosopo profile". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
6. "Shrine Classic: A Family Affair for Cousins". Los Angeles Times. July 22, 1988. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
7. Black, Ryan (January 14, 2019). "Mike Tuiasosopo named K-State defensive tackles coach". The Mercury. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
8. Morales, Andy (June 1, 2019). "Former Ironwood Ridge standout Lanea Tuiasosopo named UCLA Scholar-Athlete of the Year; Trevor Werbylo earns Pac-12 Golf Honor". ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.

External links

• Peter Tuiasosopo at IMDb

• 1965 births
• Living people
• Actors of Samoan descent
• 20th-century American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• American male film actors
• American male television actors
• American people of Samoan descent
• Male actors from Los Angeles
• People from San Pedro, Los Angeles
• Players of American football from American Samoa
• American sportspeople of Samoan descent
• American football centers
• Utah State Aggies football players
• Los Angeles Rams players
• National Football League replacement players
• Players of American football from Los Angeles
• Phineas Banning High School alumni