'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' star Jason David Frank dies at 49

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers star Jason David Frank, who played Tommy Oliver in the series, has died. The actor was 49 years old.

According to Deadline, a cause of death has not been revealed.

“He loved his family his family, friends, and fans very much,” a representative for Frank said to People. “He will be truly missed.”

Frank’s Tommy Oliver was introduced in the 17^th episode of the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which aired on Fox Kids in 1993. In his first appearance, Tommy was put under a spell by the villain Rita Repulsa (played by Machiko Soga and voiced by Barbara Goodson), and was given the powers of the Green Ranger and control of the Dragonzord. During the five-part “Green with Evil” storyline, the Green Ranger was an enemy to the Power Rangers. At the conclusion of the storyline, the Rangers freed Tommy from Rita’s spell and he joined the team.

Tommy would later lose his powers as the Green Ranger in the second season of the series, and leave the team. However, he returned a few episodes later as the White Ranger and controlled the White Tigerzord. After Austin St. John (Jason Lee Scott/the Red Ranger) left the series, Tommy took over as the leader of the team.

Frank also played Tommy in the 1995 film Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. The film was directed by Bryan Spicer and featured Paul Freeman as the villain Ivan Ooze. For the fourth season of television series, it was rebranded as Power Rangers Zeo. The season also gave the Rangers new suits and Zords, with Tommy becoming the Red Zeo Ranger.

A second film, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, was released in 1997, showing Tommy becoming the Red Turbo Ranger. The film was directed by David Winning and Shuki Levy, and featured Hilary Shepard Turner as the villain Divatox. The movie’s storyline led into the television series’ fifth season titled Power Rangers Turbo. In the 19^th episode of the season, Tommy retired from being a Power Ranger and chose T.J. Johnson (Selwyn Ward) to be the new Red Turbo Ranger.

In 2002, Frank reprised the role of Tommy Oliver in the Power Rangers Wild Force episode “Forever Red.” The episode featured 10 Red Rangers teaming up, with Tommy as the Red Zeo Ranger.

Frank returned as a main cast member to the franchise in the 2004 season Power Rangers Dino Thunder, which aired on ABC Kids and Toon Disney’s Jetix block. In the season, Tommy is a high school science teacher who mentors Conner McKnight (James Napier), Ethan James (Kevin Duhaney), and Kira Ford (Emma Lahana) as a new group of Power Rangers. Tommy himself becomes a Ranger again as the Black Dino Ranger.

Frank would later reprise the role as a guest star in 2014 for an episode of Power Rangers Super Megaforce. His final appearance as Tommy Oliver was in a 2018 episode of Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel. Frank also made a cameo appearance in the 2017 reboot film Power Rangers, along with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers co-star Amy Jo Johnson.

Outside of Power Rangers, Frank’s other work includes 2007’s The Junior Defenders, Cartoon Network’s We Bare Bears, and the animated web series Transformers: Titans Return.

Frank his survived by his four children.

Austin St. John, who played Jason Lee Scott/the first Red Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the Gold Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo, posted on Twitter:

Walter Emanuel Jones, who played Zack Taylor/the first Black Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, posted on Instagram:

Amy Jo Johnson, who played Kimberly Hart/the first Pink Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, posted on Instagram:

Paul Schrier, who played the comedy relief character Bulk Bulkmeier in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo, and Power Rangers Turbo, posted on Twitter:

David Fielding, who was the original actor to play the Rangers' mentor Zordon in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, posted on Twitter:

Karan Ashely, who played Aisha Campbell/the second Yellow Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, posted on Instagram:

Steve Cardenas, who played Rocky DeSantos/the second Red Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo, posted on Instagram:

Nakia Burrise, who played Tanya Sloan/the Yellow Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo and the first Yellow Ranger in Power Rangers Turbo, posted on Instagram:

Blake Foster, who played Justin Stewart/the Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Turbo, posted on Instagram:

Hilary Shepard Turner, who played Divatox in Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie and the second half of Power Rangers Turbo, posted on Instagram:

Selwyn Ward, whose character T.J. Johnson was chosen by Tommy to be the second Red Turbo Power Ranger in Power Rangers Turbo, posted on Instagram:

The image from Ward's post is from the 2002 "Forever Red" crossover episode.

Kevin Duhaney, who played Ethan James/the Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Dino Thunder, posted on Twitter:

The Power Rangers Twitter account posted:

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