Tamayo Perry was a native of O’ahu, an island in Hawaii, and grew up in a small rural town situated east of the North Shore. For more than 15 years, he made a living as a professional surfer, conquering the most treacherous wave in the world – Pipeline.
Perry rose to international prominence in 1999 after triumphing in the highly-regarded Pipeline Master trials. This secured him a place in the main event, where he surprised everyone by defeating the top-ranked World Title Contender.
Furthermore, Tamayo Perry displayed his expertise in the most challenging and unforgiving wave conditions ever witnessed at the Pipe Masters competition.
After demonstrating his skills as a young boy from a small island, he was invited to compete in the Teahupoo, Tahiti Trials, proving that he could compete with the best surfers in the world. This event marked his first encounter with the world-renowned wave, Teahupoo.
Tamayo Perry, a passionate water enthusiast, acquired a vast amount of expertise through both his achievements and his hardships. Several years ago, while riding the Extra Large waves at Pipeline, Perry was caught in a bizarre incident that nearly cost him his life. This unfortunate event happened due to someone else’s negligence.
Acting Career
Besides surfing, Tamayo Perry was also an actor. Perry portrayed a buccaneer in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’, the fourth installment in the series featuring Johnny Depp as the quirky pirate Captain Jack Sparrow. The 2021 movie also featured Penelope Cruz and Geoffrey Rush.
Perry’s other acting credits include roles in ‘Blue Crush’ and ‘Hawaii Five-0’ and a part in the sequel to ‘Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle’. He also served as a stunt performer in the Owen Wilson surfing film ‘The Big Bounce’ and appeared in a Coca-Cola commercial.
Cause of Death
According to reports, Tamayo Perry’s body was discovered by nearby residents near Malaekahana Beach, located approximately 50 kilometers north of Honolulu on Sunday, 23 June 2024. The cause of death was suspected to be shark bite attacks on more than one part of the body.
He was found at 1 PM local time and had suffered the loss of an arm and a leg. Lifeguards used a jetski to bring his body back to shore, where paramedics pronounced him dead on the spot.
The World Surf League mourned the loss of Perry and released a statement:
“We are deeply saddened to share that the surf community lost a beloved icon yesterday. A well-known surfer and lifeguard, Tamayo Perry, passed away after injuries from a shark attack that occurred on the East Side of Oahu.
“Tamayo was a Pipeline/Teahupo’o specialist, freesurfer, former competitor, and member of the WSL for many years. He became a lifeguard for the city and was a big part of the North Shore community.
“Our hearts go out to Tamayo’s family and friends.”
Perry was married to Emilia da Silva who is also a talented surfer. At the age of 18, Emilia traveled to Hawaii for a competition where she met Tamayo while bodyboarding at Pipeline.
After a couple of years, she switched to surfing and eventually married Tamayo, never looking back. As Tamayo honed her abilities, she reached a level of expertise that landed her a paid contract with a top brand of surf apparel.
Her most recent post on her public Instagram profile was a birthday message to her husband, who turned 49. She included a photo of him dressed in character on the Pirates set.
