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Herman Wedemeyer transitioned from football to acting
The actor was a man of many talents.
Herman Wedemeyer lived quite a life during his 74 years on Earth. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Wedemeyer played professional football for a number of years. After playing college football, the young Wedemeyer played for teams like the Los Angeles Dons and the Baltimore Colts. Wedemeyer elected to retire from the game in the 1940s. “I felt it was time to go home,” said Wedemeyer during an interview with The Los Angeles Times Service. “I didn’t know how far pro football would take me. If I continued to play, I’d still have to come back here someday and reestablish myself.”
Instead, Wedemeyer established himself as a political figure years later. He was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 1970. As if that weren’t enough to do, a spotlight had shone on Wedemeyer, opening the door for an acting opportunity.
While working in government, Wedemeyer was offered the opportunity to act in Hawaii Five-O. The series was filmed in his home state.
“While I was in politics, I had an opportunity to go on the show,” Wedemeyer said during an interview with The Miami Herald. “I was playing golf, and this fellow said to me, ‘Why don’t you do some reading for us?’ That was in about 1968 and 1969. So I did.”
Though he was a popular football player, acting in Hawaii Five-O offered Wedemeyer fame on a nationwide level. The actor played Detective Duke Lukela on the popular series.
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