Jason David Frank was a famous actor in the 1990s for playing Tommy Oliver in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series.
Of all the franchise actors, Frank was one of the most active, if not the most active, Power Ranger veterans.
But on November 19, Jason David Frank died at the age of 49.
The news
Jason David Frank died in Texas this weekend.
His manager Justine Hunt confirmed the actor’s death.
Details of Frank’s death have not been released.
However, Hunt asked fans to respect the privacy of the actor’s family and friends “during this horrible time as we come to terms with the loss of such a wonderful human being.”
Walter Jones, the first Black Ranger and Frank’s co-star in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, took to Instagram to express his grief and wrote:
“Can’t believe it…. RIP Jason David Frank. My heart is sad to have lost another member of our special family.”
Read also: Kevin Conroy: The most iconic Batman projects he worked on
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers
Jason David Frank made his career as the Green Ranger in Mighty Morphin’s Power Rangers.
The show debuted on Fox Kids in 1993 and ran for three years as audiences marveled at costumed superheroes battling in kung-fu.
Frank’s character initially starts as an enemy of the Rangers with a limited appearance.
However, his charisma won the admiration of fans, and he became a series regular.
Frank went on to appear in other Power Rangers shows and movies, including:
- Zeo
- Turbo
- Wild Force
- DinoThunder
- Ninja Steel
Other ventures
Jason David Frank is also famous for his martial arts.
He was inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame and the Black Belt Hall of Fame.
Frank has also performed numerous stunts in the Power Rangers franchise.
He had an eighth-degree black belt in karate and studied taekwondo, judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai.
Jason David Frank began practicing karate at age four and received his first black belt when he was only twelve.
In 1994, he founded several martial arts schools.
Frank also masters an exclusive fighting system called Toso Kune Do, which translates to “Way of the Fighting Fist.”
Toso Kune Do combines different styles of martial arts.
At the end of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, he met Kyoshi Rick Herbster, who later became his business partner for many years.
The two ran the Rising Sun Karate Academy, where Frank taught until his death.
Frank then made his MMA debut in 2010 at the Lonestar Beatdown event in Houston, Texas.
He managed to beat Jonathan “the Mack Truck” Mack in the first round.
Read also: Sylvester Stallone provides Bruce Willis health update
What could have been
Of all the Power Rangers actors, Jason David Frank has been the most active and has appeared in several iterations of the franchise.
He also appeared with original star Amy Jo Johnson in the 2017 Power Rangers reboot movie as civilians wearing their original colors.
Frank was due to appear in an upcoming film.
Aaron Schoenke’s film ‘Legend of the White Dragon’ follows Frank as the white dragon.
The Green Ranger actor is survived by his children, Hunter, Jacob, Skye and Jenna.
Reference:
Jason David Frank, ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ star, dies at 49
