The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers actor Jason David Frank, well known for playing the Green and White Rangers, has died aged 49.
“Can’t believe it… RIP Jason David Frank. My heart is sad to have lost another member of our special family,” Frank’s Power Rangers co-star Walter E. Jones posted on Instagram, confirming the news.
“Please respect the privacy of his family and friends during this horrible time as we come to terms with the loss of such a wonderful human being. He loved his family, friends and fans very much. He will be truly missed,” Justine Hunt, the actor’s representative, said.
Who was Jason David Frank?
Jason David Frank, born on September 4, 1973, was an American actor and mixed martial artist who was most notable for his career as Tommy Oliver from the Power Rangers franchise.
In the show’s initial run, which spanned from August 28, 1993, to November 27, 1995, Frank played Tommy Oliver. It had a total of 145 episodes during its three seasons on television. The actor was originally only scheduled to play the Green Ranger for 14 episodes, but due to his popularity with viewers, he was brought back to play the White Ranger and serve as the team’s new commander for the rest of the season.
Also read: 10 famous people you didn’t know battled Alzheimer’s disease
Frank, who held an eighth-degree black belt in karate, continued to play the Red Zeo Ranger for 50 episodes of the new Power Rangers Zeo series in 1996. He played the part once more in Power Rangers Turbo the following year before temporarily leaving the franchise. He eventually made a comeback in 2002 for a Power Rangers Wild Force episode commemorating the show’s tenth anniversary, and he later took on the role of the Black Dino Ranger for 38 episodes of Power Rangers Dino Thunder and its companion video game.
Also read: Why Chris Hemsworth is at higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease
However, his time with the Rangers was far from over. In addition to appearing in the 2017 Power Rangers movie alongside fellow original Ranger Amy Jo Johnson, he had a brief appearance in the Season 2 finale of Power Rangers Super Megaforce in 2014. In honour of the 25th anniversary of the series, Power Rangers Ninja Steel (2018) featured his final franchise appearance.
Other appearances by Frank include cameos on Family Matters and Sweet Valley High, as well as voice roles in the video games Smite and Transformers: Titans Return.
Frank claimed to be a Christian and stated that following the death of his brother Erik, he started going to church. Frank was of German, Greek, Polish, and Irish descent.
Also read: Charlize Theron’s Afrikaans comment stirs controversy
In 1994, he married his first wife, with whom he had two sons and a daughter. In 2001, they got divorced. He then married Tammie, his second wife, in 2003 and had one daughter with her. Tammie requested a divorce from Frank in 2022.
He died on November 20, 2022, at the age of 49.
