Actor Jason David Frank has passed away at 49. He was best known for playing the part of Tommy Oliver in the TV series Power Rangers.
The actor passed away on Saturday in the state of Texas, according to his manager Justine Hunt, who confirmed the news to the Associated Press and praised him as a “great human being.”
The first season of the show included Frank’s role as the Green Ranger, who was first portrayed as the Power Rangers’ enemy when the audience first saw him on screen.
However, he eventually changed his ways and became the White Ranger.
Hunt asked 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”.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers debuted in 1993 on Fox Kids and continued to be broadcast for the first three years of its run. The show’s protagonists, who are vigilante action heroes, soon gained a large following among young viewers.
In the years that followed, the franchise continued with a number of new iterations and adaptations. During this time, Jason David frequently returned to his role in the series, which led to him becoming a fan favorite among those who watched the program.
One of Frank’s co-stars on the program, Walter Jones, posted the following on his Instagram account: “Can’t believe it… RIP Jason David Frank. My heart is sad to have lost another member of our special family.”
The passing of Frank comes twenty years after that of his co-star Thuy Trang, who was just 27 years old when she passed away in 2001 as a result of injuries incurred in a vehicle accident.
