Jason David Frank, a former Power Rangers actor, passed away at the age of 49, a spokesman announced. The actor and mixed martial artist died in Texas, according to TMZ his rep Justine Hunt. Sources with direct knowledge tell us his death was the result of suicide.
On the children’s television programme “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” from the 1990s, Frank primarily portrayed Tommy Oliver, the Green Power Ranger.
In a statement on Sunday, Justine Hunt, who was his manager, announced his passing.
The cause of death for the mixed martial artist and American actor has not yet been made known to the public. Ms. Hunt requested that his family and friends’ privacy, declining to specify when he passed away.
As word of Frank’s passing spread on Sunday, co-stars and viewers of the Power Rangers television series paid tribute to him.
The original Black Power Ranger who played alongside Frank in “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” Walter Emmanuel Jones, expressed his shock at the news in a post on Instagram.
“My heart is sad to have lost another member of our special family,” wrote Jones.
The first Yellow Power Ranger, Thuy Trang, passed away in a car accident in 2001 at the age of 27.
Five adolescents are assigned to protect Earth from evil in “Mighty Morphine Power Rangers,” which made its television premiere on Fox in 1993 and went on to become a cultural sensation.
Tommy Oliver, a character played by Frank, joined the team as the Green Ranger very early on in the first season.
Frank also played the White, Black, and Red Rangers later on.
He was an outstanding martial artist, holding black belts in Muay Thai instruction as well as Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
He developed his own style of American karate called “Toso Kune Do” using his extensive experience.
According to an earlier report from the entertainment website TMZ, Tammie Frank, Frank’s second wife, filed for divorce in August.
Four children, one from his union with Tammie Frank and three from his first union with Shawna Frank, survive J D Frank.
