The Pirates of the Caribbean actor and pro surfer killed by a shark in Hawaii was Tamayo Perry, a 49-year-old Hawaii-born Pipeline surfer, Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard, surf instructor, and occasional actor who died on June 23, 2024, while surfing near Goat Island and Mālaekahana Beach on Oʻahu’s North Shore.
Perry’s death was reported after an emergency call shortly before 1 p.m. Lifeguards brought him to shore, where he was pronounced dead, and officials issued shark warnings in the area. His best-known entertainment credit was a small appearance as a buccaneer in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, released in 2011.
Key takeaways
- Tamayo Perry was 49 when he died on June 23, 2024, after a shark attack while surfing near Goat Island, also called Mokuauia, off Oʻahu’s North Shore.
- Perry was best known as a professional Pipeline surfer, Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard, surf instructor, and North Shore waterman.
- Perry appeared as a buccaneer in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, released on May 20, 2011; he was not a principal star.
- Emergency responders brought Perry to shore after the attack, where he was pronounced dead, and officials issued shark warnings for the area.
- The reviewed reporting does not establish the shark species, the number of sharks, or the exact sequence of bites.
- The careful description of Perry as the “first known professional surfer” killed in a shark attack reflects uncertainty about how “professional surfer” is defined.
Who was the Pirates of the Caribbean actor killed by a shark in Hawaii?
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor and pro surfer killed by a shark in Hawaii was Tamayo Perry, a 49-year-old Hawaii-born Pipeline surfer, Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard, surf instructor, and occasional actor who died on June 23, 2024, while surfing near Goat Island and Mālaekahana Beach on Oʻahu’s North Shore.
Perry’s public identity was rooted far more deeply in surfing and ocean safety than in acting. He was a renowned Pipeline rider, won the Pipeline Master trials in 1999, became a Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard in 2016, and ran a surf school with his wife, Emilia, according to Surfline’s account of Perry’s career.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| Part of Perry’s life | What the reviewed sources establish | How to describe it accurately |
|---|---|---|
| Surfing | He was a professional surfer known for riding Pipeline and won the Pipeline Master trials in 1999. | Professional surfer and Pipeline rider |
| Public safety | He became a Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard in 2016. | Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard and waterman |
| Teaching | He ran a surf school with his wife, Emilia, and maintained a coaching biography. | Surf instructor and surf-school operator |
| Entertainment | He had a small appearance as a buccaneer in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, with other secondary screen credits reported in contemporary coverage. | Occasional actor, not a lead performer |
What happened to Tamayo Perry?
Tamayo Perry was fatally injured in a shark attack while surfing on Sunday, June 23, 2024, near Goat Island—also known as Mokuauia—off Mālaekahana Beach on the east side of Oʻahu’s North Shore. A caller contacted emergency dispatch shortly before 1 p.m. and reported that a man appeared to have suffered more than one shark bite.
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Lifeguards brought Perry to shore, where he was pronounced dead. Officials posted shark warnings in the area after the attack. The incident details come from emergency-official reporting summarized by Hawaiʻi Public Radio and The Associated Press.
The available reporting does not provide a complete forensic reconstruction. The reviewed sources do not identify the shark species, establish how many sharks were involved, or document the precise sequence of bites. Those details should not be filled in with speculation.
Where was Tamayo Perry attacked?
Tamayo Perry was attacked while surfing near Goat Island, or Mokuauia, off Mālaekahana Beach on Oʻahu’s North Shore. The location is on Oʻahu’s east-facing North Shore and is separate from the better-known Pipeline surf break with which Perry was professionally associated.
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Was Tamayo Perry a professional surfer?
Yes. Tamayo Perry was a professional surfer and renowned Pipeline rider, although his career also included lifeguarding, surf instruction, and occasional acting. Perry’s own coaching biography states, “In 1999, I was launched on to the world stage when winning the prestigious Pipeline Master trials.”
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The year 1999 is also reported in Perry’s official coaching biography and by Surfline. The biography describes Perry as having surfed professionally for more than 15 years and identifies Pipeline as the wave for which he was paid to surf.
That background matters because the “actor” label can make Perry sound primarily like a screen performer. The stronger and more complete description is a professional Pipeline surfer, North Shore waterman, Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard, and surf instructor who also accepted acting roles.
What Pirates of the Caribbean movie was Tamayo Perry in?
Tamayo Perry appeared as a buccaneer in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Disney identifies the film as a 2011 movie directed by Rob Marshall and gives its release date as May 20, 2011, on the official Disney film page.
Perry’s role was a small appearance rather than a principal character or starring performance. Contemporary reporting also connected him with Blue Crush, Hawaii Five-0, and other screen work, but the exact size and nature of some of those credits vary by source. Perry should therefore be described as an occasional actor with a recognizable franchise connection, not as one of the main stars of the Pirates of the Caribbean film.
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Readers revisiting Perry’s film connection can look for the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides DVD, while checking the current edition and availability before buying. The film itself is the direct connection; there is no evidence in the reviewed sources that the release contains Perry-focused bonus material.
Was Tamayo Perry the first professional surfer killed by a shark?
Tamayo Perry has been described as the first known professional surfer to be killed in a shark attack, but that wording requires qualification. The category of “professional surfer” is not defined consistently, so an unqualified statement that Perry was definitively the first is broader than the evidence supports.
The most defensible wording is “the first known professional surfer killed by a shark” or “believed to be the first professional surfer killed in a shark attack,” while acknowledging that historical records and definitions may differ. The qualification was noted in Associated Press reporting published by ABC17 News.
What did people say about Perry’s legacy?
Honolulu Acting Ocean Safety Chief Kurt Lager said, “Tamayo’s personality was infectious and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more.” Lager also described Perry as “a lifeguard loved by all.”
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi called Perry “a legendary waterman and highly respected.” These statements are personal tributes, not independently measured rankings, but they reflect the public-safety and waterman community’s view of Perry’s importance. The quotations were reported by Hawaiʻi Public Radio and The Associated Press.
What is known—and not known—about the shark?
The reviewed sources establish that Perry died after a shark attack, but they do not establish the shark species. No reliable species identification, population statistic, or complete account of the animal’s behavior was found in the supplied reporting.
As a result, claims naming a specific shark species, estimating the number of sharks, or reconstructing the exact attack should be treated as unverified unless supported by a later official investigation. The confirmed facts are the location, date, emergency response, fatal outcome, and subsequent shark warnings.
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Tamayo Perry’s film credit explains why many headlines introduced him through Pirates of the Caribbean, but the description captures only a small part of his life. His lasting public profile came from charging difficult Pipeline waves, teaching surfing, working as a lifeguard, and participating in the North Shore water community.
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That distinction is especially important in a documentary or biographical context. Perry was not primarily a celebrity who happened to surf; he was a respected waterman and public-safety professional who also appeared on screen. His death connected a widely recognized movie title with a much more substantial local legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of shark killed Tamayo Perry?
The reviewed official and contemporary reports do not identify the shark species that attacked Tamayo Perry. They also do not establish the number of sharks involved or the exact sequence of bites.
Which Pirates of the Caribbean movie was Tamayo Perry in?
Tamayo Perry appeared as a buccaneer in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, released on May 20, 2011. Perry had a small supporting appearance rather than a principal role.
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Was Tamayo Perry the first professional surfer killed by a shark?
Perry was described as the first known professional surfer killed in a shark attack, but “first known” is important because the definition of professional surfer is not consistent across historical records.
The Bottom Line
Tamayo Perry was a 49-year-old professional Pipeline surfer, Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard, surf instructor, and occasional actor. He died on June 23, 2024, after a shark attack near Goat Island and Mālaekahana Beach on Oʻahu’s North Shore. Perry appeared as a buccaneer in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, but his central legacy was as a North Shore waterman and lifeguard. The shark species and other attack details were not established in the reviewed reporting.
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