- Jason David Frank died at the age of 49 in November 2022
- The actor was best known as the Green Ranger, Tommy Oliver, in the beloved 90s television series ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers‘
- His co-star who played the Black Ranger, Walter E. Jones, confirmed the news of Jason’s death, saying his ‘heart is sad’
The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers lost an important piece of their team when Jason David Frank passed away in November 2022. The actor, who was best known for portraying Green Ranger (and later the White Ranger) Tommy Oliver, was only 49 at the time of his death. Frank’s Power Rangers co-star Walter E. Jones confirmed the news via Instagram writing, “Can’t believe it… RIP Jason David Frank. My heart is sad to have lost another member of our special family.”
The actor’s representative also confirmed the sad news in a statement, writing, “Unfortunately, it is true, 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.” The rep added, “He loved his family, friends and fans very much. He will be truly missed.” Amy Jo Johnson, who played the Pink Ranger and Jason’s onscreen love interest, also mourned his death on Instagram.
Keep reading to find out more about the late actor, below.
Where was Jason from?
Born on September 4, 1973, Jason was raised near Hollywood in Covina, California. He took up mixed martial arts as a teen and soon found his way auditioning for gigs using those talents.
His Green Ranger was originally written for only 14 episodes
Jason’s Green Ranger was introduced in the first episode of the series in 1993 as an enemy of the other Power Rangers. The character arc was only going to last for 14 episodes. However, Jason became so popular with fans that the writers kept him on for the full 123 episodes over three seasons, bringing him back into the fold as the altruistic leader known as the White Ranger, per TVLine.
Jason continued his Power Rangers appearances in spin-offs
In 1996, Jason joined Power Rangers Zeo as Red Zeo Power Ranger. He also had roles in Power Rangers Turbo, Power Rangers Wild Force and Power Rangers Dino Thunder. His final franchise appearance was in 2018’s Power Rangers Ninja Steel, a special edition for the series’ 25th anniversary.
He is survived by four children
Jason was married twice, with both ending in divorce, the most recent in 2022. He is survived by his four children, sons Hunter and Jacob, plus daughters Skye and Jenna, according to People. His death comes 21 years after that of costar Thuy Trang, who died in 2001 from a car accident.
Jason reportedly died by suicide
While a cause of death has yet to be revealed, several reports indicate Jason died by suicide. Sources close to the actor confirmed to TMZ that Jason’s death was suicide. HollywoodLife will keep you posted on the official cause of death when it is released.