New details on the tragic death of Jason David Frank, the green Power Ranger
After he died in the weekend of November 19, details of actor Jason David Frank's last hours began to emerge. The 'Power Rangers' star was in a Texas hotel and fought with his partner shortly before he ended his life at age 49.
Warning: this article contains potentially disturbing details about self-harm. Please click further with caution.
As several media have reported, the green Power Ranger (dressed in white in the photo) took his own life. According to TMZ, the actor had an intense argument with his wife, Tammie Frank, only hours before his death. The couple had separated in the summer but they had recently gotten back together.
Jason and Tammie were staying in two separate rooms in a Texas hotel, but when the actor entered his partner's room, they got into a fight. The argument was so loud that hotel staff had to come over and intervene.
Far from calming down, the two had a second argument, as reported by TMZ. In the end, Jason David Frank threw Tammie out of the room.
Picture: @tammie_frank / Instagram
At 05:00 hours the next morning, Tammie called the police, as she noticed that her ex-partner was not responding to her calls. When the police entered his room, they found a terrible scene: the actor and martial arts master had ended his life by hanging.
Picture: @tammie_frank / Instagram
According to Tammie's own account on Instagram, the couple had given each other a second chance. "The loss of my soulmate. Jason, I can't go on without you! You are my world!" she said. "Yes, we had our struggles like any marriage. But months ago we both agreed it was worth saving."
Photo: @tammie_frank / Instagram
Frank is the latest victim of the so-called 'curse' of the Power Rangers (or, as their complete title says: 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'). Like other cast members, he died at a young age.
The actor's coach, Mike 'The Greek' Bronzoulis, confirmed the death of the actor with a heartfelt message through his Facebook account. While he didn't address the cause of death directly, various media immediately reported that Frank took his own life.
"RIP my brother from another mother Jason David Frank," Bronzoulis wrote. "I'm still in shock I'm feeling terrible he called me, left me a message and I took too long."
Image: Mike Bronzoulis / Facebook
"Jason was a good friend to me and I will miss him. Love and prayers for his wife Tammie and their kids. I pray that God gets yall through this difficult time," the martial arts coach concluded.
As TMZ heard from the actor's representative, Justine Hunt, the actor had taken his own life. It happened in Texas (United States). Frank was a known figure in the city of Houston.
Jason David Frank rose to fame after playing Tommy Oliver, the green Power Ranger, in the original series of the franchise.
Between 1992 and 1996, Jason David Frank wore the green suit to bring his alter ego to life for 123 episodes.
From that moment on, the actor was always associated with Tommy Oliver. He has continued to play the role in series, animated series, or video games until 2020.
Beyond fighting to save the world in the series, Jason David Frank also fought in real life. He was a known competitor in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Jason David Frank was an expert in several martial arts: Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Despite his melee experience, Jason David Frank already came close to losing his life in 2017. A disturbed fan, Matthew Sterling, tried to assassinate him.
It happened at the Phoenix Comic Con, where the assailant tried to enter the event with a shotgun, three pistols, a combat knife, and ammunition. A whole arsenal to finish off the actor.
Eventually, Matthew Sterling was arrested and, three years later, sentenced to spend 25 years in prison (based on several charges). The Phoenix News Times reported that he would spend his time in a psychiatric hospital.
The arrest of Matthew Sterling was possible thanks to the threats that he had made, repeatedly, towards Jason David Frank on social media. It helped the authorities to locate him.
The death of Jason David Frank follows that of Thuy Trang, the Yellow Power Ranger, who died in 2001 in a traffic accident.
For his part, Robert L. Manahan, Zordon in the series, would lose his life in the year 2000, at just 44 years of age, due to an aneurysm.