Jason David Frank’s cause of death has been revealed.
The Power Rangers star died by suicide, his wife, Tammie Frank, told_People_ magazine.
Tammie said in a statement that her husband, an actor and martial artist,”tragically lost his life to suicide” on Nov. 19. They were in the process ofworking on their 19-year marriage after a separation and were away for whatwas supposed to be a “fun weekend getaway.” She called the 49-year-old’s death”as much a shock to me as anyone else,” and cleared up rumors they had gotteninto a fight the night of his death.
“While Jason was a well-known name to some, we lived a very normal life withups and downs, just like anyone else,” Tammie said. “It has shocked andsaddened me beyond belief to see that the media has turned my family’s tragedyinto a tall tale. Since Jason’s death, I have been harassed online and can nolonger stand to watch my husband’s good name slandered.”
Tammie said she loved Jason, who was best known for portraying the Green andWhite Rangers, and they were “trying to work through our problems. His deathcomes as much a shock to me as anyone else. The truth is, I had no idea thatJason was thinking of ending things. Yes, he had struggled with mental healthissues and depression before, but I could never predict what would happen thatnight.”
She confirmed that they separated earlier this year. That split occurred afterthe sudden death of her daughter Shayla, whom Jason helped raise as his own.Tammie said Jason was the one who found Shayla. She admitted they werestruggling with that loss, which “wrecked our family emotionally,” whilesimultaneously raising Shayla’s baby boy. That put pressure on their marriageand they split, but reconciled six weeks ago. They were taking things slow,but the weekend he died, they were on a two-day trip to attend a countrydancing event and work on their marriage after their “especially hard year.”
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“It was meant to be a fun weekend getaway, and instead, I lost the love of mylife,” she said. “Jason was a good man, but he was not without his demons. Hewas human, just like the rest of us.”
They had separate rooms at their Texas hotel, which was normal, she said, andadmitted they received a noise complaint from hotel guests that night.However, she said it wasn’t because they were “fighting,” as reported, butbecause they were “having some fun.”
“We danced and stayed out at the event until the bar closed,” she explained.”When we got back to the hotel, Jason and I were having a heartfelt andemotional talk in his room. To help Jason relax and sober up before turningdown to sleep, I went downstairs to get us snacks from the lobby. I must’ vebeen gone no more than 10 minutes. I went back upstairs and began knocking onthe door to no answer. I knocked repeatedly and kept calling for his name toopen the door.”
Tammie said she wasn’t sure who called the police, but after they arrived, shewas escorted downstairs while authorities opened the door “and found thatJason took his life. These were the ‘disturbances’ that has been brought upnumerous times online. “
She called for people to “stop making assumptions and leave my family togrieve peacefully.” She said their family wants to remember their “happiestmemories” of Jason, and asked only for “sympathy and understanding during thisdifficult time.”
It was reported on Nov. 20 that Jason had died with no cause of deathimmediately shared by the family.
“Please respect the privacy of his family and friends during this horribletime as we come to terms with the loss of such a wonderful human being,” saidhis rep. “He loved his family, friends and fans very much. He will be trulymissed.”
Tammy shared photos of them together through the years in an Instagram post.She wrote: “The loss of my soulmate. Jason, I can’t go on without you! You aremy world! Yes we had our struggles like any marriage. But months ago we bothagreed it was worth saving. Deep conversations, vulnerability , forgiveness onboth our parts. I am deeply lost, hurt and utterly destroyed. I lost my oneand only true love. I am your forever ‘Firecracker’ baby…till we’re togetheragain.”
Jason David Frank, left, with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers at Mann’sChinese Theater in Hollywood in 1995. (Photo: Reuters)
Jason, a father of four, was best known for his Power Rangers roles —initially Green and later White. He played Tommy Oliver on the show’s originalrun, from 1993 to 1995, and then appeared in Power Rangers Zeo, Power RangersTurbo and the other show offshoots. He continued to reprise the role foryears, last appearing as 2018’s Power Rangers Ninja Steel for the 25thanniversary of the series.
He also had guest spots on Sweet Valley High and Family Matters and didvoice work in the video game Smite for the _Transformers: Titans Return_miniseries.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call 911, orcall the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOMEto the Crisis Text Line at 741741.