{{Short description|American television actor (1935–2021)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Al Harrington | image = Cropped_Photo_of_Al_Harrington.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Tausau Ta'a | birth_date = {{birth date|1935|12|12}} | birth_place = Pago Pago, American Samoa | death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|09|21|1935|12|12}} | death_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. | occupation = Actor | spouse = | children = 4 }}
'''Al Harrington''' (born '''Tausau Ta'a'''; December 12, 1935 – September 21, 2021) was a Samoan-American actor. He is best known for his role as Detective Ben Kokua on television series ''Hawaii Five-O'' and as Mamo Kahike on its 2010 reboot. He had previously appeared in five episodes of the series as other characters.
==Biography== Al Harrington was born Tausau Ta'a on December 12, 1935, in Pago Pago, American Samoa.<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine |date=November 2021 |page=43 |title=Al Harrington, 85 |magazine=Classic Images}}</ref> He was raised by his maternal grandmother in the village of Mapusaga in Pago Pago until he was three.<ref name=hm/> His mother, Lela Suapaia, sent for him to join her while she was working as a nurse in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.<ref name=Generations>{{cite web |url=https://generations808.com/al-harrington/ |title=Al Harrington Discusses His Years … And Yours |publisher=Generations |date=1 August 2013 |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref> She later married Roy Milbur Harrington, a native of Iron Mountain, Michigan, who had come to Honolulu as a serviceman with the US Army. The elder Harrington later became a member of the Honolulu Police Department. However, it was not until Al Harrington's sophomore year in high school that he took his stepfather's last name.<ref name=hm/>
He excelled at theater and American football at Punahou School, where he was a member of the class of 1954.<ref name=hm>{{cite web |url=http://wedey.hispeed.com/ben.htm |title=Al Harrington Talks Story |author=Ron Jacobs |publisher=Hawaii Magazine |date=1990 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010222234320/http://wedey.hispeed.com/ben.htm |archive-date=22 February 2001}}</ref> He participated in several productions at the school while at the same time wowed people on the football field. He led his team to the league championships at Honolulu Stadium and was the first high school football All-American to come out of Hawaii.<ref name=Generations/>
Before transferring to Stanford University, Al attended Menlo College, a private business school location in Atherton, CA, from 1954-1955, where he was close friends with the soon to be Kingston Trio's Nick Reynolds ‘56 and Bob Shane ‘56. Al Harrington then went on to play for Stanford University,<ref name=dn2010>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/10/3/20144697/actor-al-harrington-recalls-the-original-hawaii-five-o |title=Actor Al Harrington recalls the original 'Hawaii Five-O' |publisher=Deseret News |author=Trent Toone |date=3 October 2010 |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref> where he aspired to become a drama major. Unfortunately, there was some opposition to minority drama majors there. When he graduated in 1958 with a B.A. in History, the Baltimore Colts were interested in him. However, it did not offer the kind of money American professional football teams now offer, so he returned to Honolulu. Also, in order to pay for his tuition, he would work as a Polynesian dancer. It was this interesting occupation that led to an appearance on the game show ''To Tell the Truth''.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
On his return to Hawaii, Harrington would eventually work as a history teacher at Punahou and professor at the University of Hawaii.<ref name=Generations/> He also performed for many years as an entertainer in Waikiki, earning the well-known moniker of "The South Pacific Man".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/96/09/02/features/story1.html |title=Mr.Versatile |author=Burl Burlingame |publisher=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=1996 |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref> His popularity in the 1970s and 1980s made him a household name in Hawaii. He had a long running dance revue show, including Tahitian fire dancing, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. And, along with other entertainers such as Don Ho, he helped define the entertainment industry in Hawaii, known to tourists and dignitaries alike from around the world.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
Harrington was one of the few supporting cast members of ''Hawaii Five-O'' still alive, along with Sharon Farrell and Dennis Chun (also the son of Kam Fong, he had spot cameos). Harrington and Chun had recurring roles as Mamo Kahike and Sgt. Duke Lukela respectively in the 2010 reboot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/13553606/al-harrington-brings-together-old-and-new-hawaii-five-0/ |title=Al Harrington brings together old and new Hawaii Five-0 |publisher=Hawaii News Now |date=22 November 2010 |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref> He also appeared as Uncle John in three episodes of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. on Disney+ in 2021.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
Harrington died at 85 in Honolulu, Hawaii, on September 21, 2021, after suffering a massive stroke. He is survived by his wife, Rosa Harrington, sons Alema and Tau, daughters Summer Harrington and Cassi Harrington Palmer, and several grandchildren.<ref>[https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/09/21/hawaii-news/legendary-hawaii-entertainer-al-harrington-dies-at-age-85/ Legendary Hawaii entertainer Al Harrington dies at age 85]</ref>
==Religion and family== Harrington was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had one of the lead parts in ''The Testaments'', a film produced by the LDS Church.<ref name=dn2010/> He also played the role of Thomas Trueblood in ''Light of the World, A Celebration of Life'', that was put on by the LDS Church in Salt Lake City during the Olympics there in 2002.<ref name=dn2010/>
Al's sons Alema and Tau Harrington both attended Punahou School and later played football at Brigham Young University.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0364228|name=Al Harrington}} * {{Discogs artist|Al Harrington}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrington, Al}} Category:1935 births Category:2021 deaths Category:American male television actors Category:American Samoan male actors Category:Actors of Samoan descent Category:Players of American football from American Samoa Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Male actors from Hawaii Category:Punahou School alumni Category:Stanford Cardinal football players Category:American Samoan Latter Day Saints Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:People from Pago Pago, American Samoa Category:Latter Day Saints from Hawaii