Yuma local & veteran actor Peter Tuiasosopo gone at 61
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A Yuma local and veteran TV and film actor has passed away.
Reporter Manoah Tuiasosopo shares mores about his father's impact and strong ties to the city of Yuma.
My father, Peter Tuiasosopo, a Yuma local and long-time actor passed away on February 10 after an unexpected battle with heart complications.
Denise Tuiasosopo, Peter's wife, says "He loved everybody. It didn't matter if you were a stranger and only knew you for five minutes, when he was leaving he would say 'I love you.'"
He appeared in movies like The Fast and the Furious, Charlie's Angels, and the 1994 film Street Fighter. He also appeared in hit television series such as NCIS, New Girl, and The Young and the Restless.
But aside from Hollywood, he was a family man. He leaves behind his wife Denise (a Yuma native), six children, and eight grandchildren.
Married in Yuma, my parents had a huge milestone coming up.
"This coming July would be 40 years that we've been married and we had our first child here…An awesome father, a great grandfather...Just an all-around good guy," says Denise.
One thing he loved the most was spending time at the gym. He spent much of his early years at the 4th Ave Gym, making lifelong friends and regularly competing in powerlifting competitions.
Justin Haile, the owner of 4th Ave Gym, shares, "Pete was a very special person to this place, and I mean family. My dad started this gym back in '81. He's part of these walls in this facility and he goes way back for decades. He was family so he was really special. He was a true O.G. and we're going to truly miss him."
Throughout the acting and the powerlifting, my father was a true man of faith. He shared his teachings boldy and consistently and ran an on online ministry from home two times a week.
Denise shares, "We started up during COVID, it was a scary time. So, he decided to do one prayer chain over Facebook and it ended up lasting five years. So it's going to just be a little break for now until we meet again right?"
Memorial services are currently being prepared and will take place in his hometown of San Pedro, California.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help with the family with funeral expenses.
"Thank you, all. I love you Pops" says his son Manoah.
