Jason David Frank (Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, Power Rangers Turbo), actor and mixed martial artist, has tragically passed away at 49. According to Deadline, the cause of Frank’s death has not yet been disclosed, but there are reports that have indicated that the death was by suicide.
The actor’s manager, Justine Hunt, released a statement on Sunday, November 20, 2022, but did not disclose when Frank died. Hunt did ask for 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,” according to CBS News.
Frank was born and raised in Covina, California. The actor was originally the Green Power Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, named Tommy Oliver, in the early 1990s. Later on, Frank became the White Power Ranger. Frank played the White Power Ranger in both television and film adaptations of the highly-favored franchise, according to Deadline.
Frank’s fans mourn his transcendence on social media platforms.
“RIP JDF YOU THE REAL LEGEND BUBBA I LOVE YOU FOREVER #RIPLEGEND,” wrote professional wrestler, the Iron Sheik on his Twitter account, paying tribute to the late and great actor.
“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” shared the original Black Power Ranger who co-starred with Frank, Walter Emmanuel Jones (Space Cases, Malibu Shores) on his Instagram page in disbelief, according to CBS News. “My heart is sad to have lost another member of our special family,” wrote Jones in reference to Thuy Trang (Spy Hard, The Crow: City of Angels), who played the original Yellow Power Ranger, who passed away at the age of 27 as a result of a car accident in 2001.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is about five teenagers mandated to save Earth from the morally depraved. The show made its debut in 1993 on Fox and became a pop-culture phenomenon, according to AP News. Early on in the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Frank’s character was initially seen as a villain who was brainwashed by the villainous Rita Repulsa. Shortly after, Frank’s character was inducted as the Green Power Ranger and evolved into one of the most popular characters from the show.
Frank was also a practitioner of martial arts and participated in several mixed martial arts events in 2009 and 2010, according to CBS News.
Frank is survived by his four children: one from his marriage with his second wife, Tammie Frank, who filed for divorce from him in August 2022, and three from his first marriage with Shawna Frank.