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Book 'Em, Danno!: 7 Shocking Facts And The Tragic Fate Of The Original Hawaii Five-O Cast

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Decades after the iconic wave crash of its opening credits, the original Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980) remains a titan of the police procedural genre. As of December 2025, the show’s legacy is often revisited, prompting fresh curiosity about the actors who brought the groundbreaking series to life for 12 seasons on CBS. While the reboot series has concluded, the classic show’s impact, from its distinctive theme song by Morton Stevens to its unparalleled use of the Hawaiian landscape, continues to define a golden era of television.

The original series, which ran from September 20, 1968, to April 5, 1980, was the longest-running police show in American television history until Law & Order: Special Victims Unit surpassed it. The show’s creator, Leonard Freeman, established a formula of exotic location shooting and high-stakes crime that few shows have managed to replicate. This article details the fate of the main cast members and uncovers the deepest, most fascinating secrets from the set.

The Tragic and Complete Biography of the Original Five-O Task Force

A poignant and often-cited fact about the classic series is that none of the principal cast members who defined the show's 12-season run are alive today. Their personal and professional lives after the series concluded offer a fascinating, and sometimes heartbreaking, look at the price of television stardom.

  • Jack Lord (Detective Captain Steve McGarrett)
    • Real Name: John Joseph Patrick Ryan
    • Born/Died: December 30, 1920 – January 21, 1998 (Age 77)
    • Post-Five-O Life: Lord, who was also an accomplished artist, essentially retired from acting after the series ended. He was a notoriously private and controlling figure on set, taking over as Executive Producer after creator Leonard Freeman’s death in 1974. He died of congestive heart failure in Honolulu, Hawaii, the island he had come to love and protect.
    • Key Entity Fact: Before Five-O, Lord was famously considered for the role of Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series but was passed over for William Shatner.
  • James MacArthur (Detective Danny "Danno" Williams)
    • Real Name: James Gordon MacArthur
    • Born/Died: December 8, 1937 – October 28, 2010 (Age 72)
    • Post-Five-O Life: MacArthur left the series after the eleventh season in 1979, one year before the finale, believing his character had run its course. He had a successful career in theater, made guest appearances on other shows, and hosted the radio mystery series The CBS Mystery Theater. He was also famous for his earlier roles in Disney films like Swiss Family Robinson and Kidnapped.
    • Key Entity Fact: He is the recipient of McGarrett's famous catchphrase, "Book 'em, Danno!"
  • Kam Fong (Detective Chin Ho Kelly)
    • Real Name: Kam Tong Chun
    • Born/Died: May 27, 1918 – October 18, 2002 (Age 84)
    • Post-Five-O Life: Kam Fong was a beloved figure who left the show in the tenth season (1978) when his character was killed in the line of duty, a decision that shocked fans. He continued to act in minor roles and was a former disc jockey and real estate salesman.
    • Key Entity Fact: Fong was a real-life Honolulu Police Department officer for 16 years, lending incredible authenticity to his role as Detective Chin Ho Kelly.
  • Zulu (Detective Kono Kalakaua)
    • Real Name: Gilbert Francis Lani Damian Kauhi
    • Born/Died: October 17, 1937 – May 3, 2004 (Age 66)
    • Post-Five-O Life: Zulu, a former Waikiki beachboy, was a fan favorite but was controversially written off the show after the fourth season. He went on to have a successful career as a comedian and singer in Hawaii.
    • Key Entity Fact: His character's full name, Kono Kalakaua, is a nod to Hawaiian royalty and history.

The 4 Deepest Secrets and Iconic Elements of the Five-O Universe

Beyond the cast, the original Hawaii Five-O was a masterclass in using location and sound to create an atmosphere that became a cultural touchstone. The series was crucial in promoting the newly established state of Hawaii to a global audience.

1. The Real-Life Headquarters: Iolani Palace

The headquarters for the fictional Five-O task force was the stunning Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu. This was not just a prop; the building is the only official residence of royalty in the United States and was the former home of the Hawaiian Monarchs, King Kalākaua and Queen Liliuokalani. The use of this historical landmark added gravitas to the show's state-level jurisdiction. The exterior shots of the building used for the task force's offices are actually of the adjacent building, Aliʻiōlani Hale, which houses the Supreme Court of Hawaii.

The show's commitment to on-location shooting, an insistence of Jack Lord, meant that the beautiful beaches of Oahu, the streets of Waikiki, and the lush, dangerous jungles were all authentic backdrops, a rarity for television at the time.

2. The Theme Song is a Rock Anthem

The instantly recognizable theme song is arguably one of the greatest instrumental pieces in television history. It was composed by Morton Stevens, who won two Emmy Awards for his work on the series in 1970 and 1974. The theme's driving, brass-heavy sound was so popular that a version by The Ventures, an American instrumental rock band, became a major hit on the Billboard charts. Stevens was the Director of Music for CBS on the West Coast, bringing a cinematic quality to the procedural drama.

3. "Book 'Em, Danno!" Was Almost Never Said

The catchphrase—Detective Captain Steve McGarrett’s final command to his junior officer, Danny Williams—is synonymous with the show. However, the line "Book 'em, Danno!" was not spoken in every episode, nor was it intended to be the show's signature line. It was simply a natural piece of dialogue that gained traction with viewers and became a cultural phenomenon. The line encapsulates the no-nonsense, get-the-job-done attitude of McGarrett, setting the stage for every modern police procedural that followed.

The Final Showdown: How the Original Series Really Ended

After 12 seasons and 278 episodes, the original Hawaii Five-O concluded on April 5, 1980, with a definitive and satisfying end to the long-running conflict between McGarrett and his arch-nemesis, the international mastermind Wo Fat.

The final episode, titled "Woe to Wo Fat," brought the 12-year-long cat-and-mouse game to a dramatic close. The plot revolved around Wo Fat (played by Khigh Dhiegh) attempting to acquire a powerful laser weapon. The episode was a final, one-on-one confrontation that delivered the closure fans had been waiting for. In a climactic sequence, McGarrett finally manages to outwit and physically subdue his long-time adversary, resulting in Wo Fat's arrest and imprisonment.

The arrest of Wo Fat was a major moment, as the villain had been a recurring threat since the pilot episode in 1968. The original series finale is often praised for giving its lead character, Steve McGarrett, the ultimate victory and a clean exit, unlike many shows that end abruptly. It was a proper "Aloha" to a series that had defined a generation of television and forever changed the perception of the 50th state.

Book 'Em, Danno!: 7 Shocking Facts and The Tragic Fate of the Original Hawaii Five-O Cast
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