Herman Wedemeyer

Herman John Wedemeyer (May 20, 1924; Hilo, Hawaii – January 25, 1999; Honolulu, Hawaii) was an American actor, football player, and politician. He is best known for portraying 'Sergeant/Detective "Duke" Lukela' on the crime drama Hawaii Five-O (1972–1980).

Sports hero
Wedemeyer, attended St. Louis School in Honolulu and was a standout in both football and baseball. Wedemeyer, a halfback, played college football for the St. Mary's College Galloping Gaels in Moraga, CA. In 1945, he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Wedemeyer was Hawai'i's first consensus All-American football player. He bore the colorful nicknames 'Squirmin' Herman,' 'The Flyin' Hawaiian,' 'The Hawaiian Centipede,' and 'The Hula-Hipped Hawaiian.'

Wedemeyer was a first-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference in 1948. Despite leading the AAFC in punt return yardage that year, he was waived by the Dons. He was then signed by the AAFC Baltimore Colts, with whom he played in 1949 before retiring from professional sports for good.

Herman was the brother of Charlie Wedemeyer, a former Michigan State football player who gained fame when, as a football coach at Los Gatos High School, he contracted Lou Gehrig's Disease and continued to coach for many years, despite his handicap. He is the subject of a television movie called Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story.

Government service
In 1968, Wedemeyer was elected to the Honolulu City Council as a Republican. In 1970, he was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives as a Democrat, winning re-election in 1972.

Hawaii Five-O
Wedemeyer played Edward D. "Duke" Lekela on Hawaii Five-O from 1971 to 1980, appearing in 143 episodes.

Filmography

 * The Hawaiians 1970
 * Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980)
 * Magnum, P.I. 1981
 * Hawaii Five-O (1997)