Jason David Frank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jason David Frank |
|
---|---|
![]() Frank at the Louisville Supercon in 2018
|
|
Born | Covina, California, U.S. |
September 4, 1973
Died | November 19, 2022 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
(aged 49)
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
Weight | 214 lb (97 kg) |
Division | Heavyweight |
Style | Toso Kune Do |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
Team | Silverback MMA |
Rank | 8th Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate Black Belt in Wado-ryu Karate Black Belt in Taekwondo Black Belt in Judo Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Ajarn Degree in Muay Thai |
Years active | 2010 (MMA) |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 1 |
Wins | 1 |
By submission | 1 |
Losses | 0 |
Amateur MMA record | |
Total | 4 |
Wins | 4 |
By knockout | 2 |
By submission | 2 |
Losses | 0 |
Children | 4 |
last updated on: April 28, 2010
|
Jason David Frank (September 4, 1973 – November 19, 2022) was an American actor and a skilled martial artist. He was best known for playing Tommy Oliver in the TV show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and other Power Rangers series.
Contents
Early Life
Jason David Frank was born in Covina, California, on September 4, 1973.
His Acting Career
Becoming a Power Ranger
Frank became famous for his role as Tommy Oliver, the Green Ranger. This role was first planned for only 14 episodes. But fans loved his character so much that he was brought back. He then became the White Ranger and the new leader of the Power Rangers team.
Frank was also considered for a main role in another show called VR Troopers. However, because Tommy Oliver was so popular, Frank returned to Power Rangers instead.
Changing Ranger Colors
After three seasons, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers changed into Power Rangers Zeo. In this new series, Frank's character became the Red Zeo Ranger.
The next year, in Power Rangers Turbo, he became the first Red Turbo Ranger. During this season, Frank and some other cast members decided to leave the show.
Returning to the Power Rangers
Even after leaving, Frank came back to Power Rangers several times.
- In 2002, he returned as the Red Zeo Ranger for a special 10th-anniversary episode called "Forever Red" in Power Rangers Wild Force. This episode brought back ten former Red Rangers.
- In 2004, he reprised his role in Power Rangers Dino Thunder as the Black Dino Ranger.
- He also appeared as Tommy Oliver (the Green Ranger) in the final episode of Power Rangers Super Megaforce in 2014.
- In 2017, Frank had a small appearance in the Power Rangers movie.
- In 2018, he returned for the 25th anniversary of Power Rangers in Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel.
In August 2022, Frank announced that he had retired from the Power Rangers series.
Other Projects
Frank appeared in a web series called Super Power Beatdown. In 2013, he played the White Ranger fighting Scorpion from Mortal Kombat. In 2015, he played the Green Ranger fighting Ryu from Street Fighter.
He also starred in a web reality series about his life called My Morphing Life.
Frank was part of a film called Legend of the White Dragon. This movie started as a small project and grew into a full-length film. It includes other actors from Power Rangers. The movie finished filming in 2021 and is expected to be released in 2023.
Fighting and Martial Arts
Focus | Hybrid |
---|---|
Hardness | Full-contact |
Country of origin | United States |
Creator | Jason David Frank |
Parenthood | Karate (Shōtōkan, Wado-ryu), Judo, Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
Olympic sport | No |
Jason David Frank was a highly skilled martial artist. He knew many different styles, including Shōtōkan Karate, Wadō-ryū, Taekwondo, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do, and Aikido.
He used his knowledge to create his own style of American Karate called "Toso Kune Do." This name means "Way of the Fist-Fighter." In 2003, he was honored by being inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame.
In 2013, Frank temporarily held a Guinness World Record. He broke seven 1-inch pine boards while falling through the air. This broke the old record of two boards. However, his record was broken a few months later by someone who broke twelve boards.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
In 2009, Frank announced he would start fighting in MMA. He trained with professional fighters.
He had his first amateur MMA fight on January 30, 2010. He won by using a submission move called an omoplata. He won his next three amateur fights as well. One win was by TKO (punches) and another by KO (knee). His final amateur win was by an armbar submission.
Frank made his professional MMA debut on August 4, 2010. He won this fight quickly in the first round by using a Rear Naked Choke submission.
Personal Life

Jason David Frank was a Christian. He said he started going to church after his brother passed away.
He had four children. He married his first wife, Shawna, in 1994, and they had two sons and a daughter before divorcing in 2001. In 2003, he married his second wife, Tammie, and they had one daughter. They were in the process of reconciling when he passed away.
Death
Jason David Frank passed away in Houston, Texas, on November 19, 2022, at the age of 49. He was laid to rest in Forest Lawn – Covina Hills in his hometown of Covina, California, near his brother and mother.
Filmography
Television Shows
Title | Year | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers | 1993–1996 | Tommy Oliver – Green Ranger / White Ranger | 124 episodes |
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Alpha's Magical Christmas | 1994 | Tommy Oliver | Video short |
Cybertron | Adam Steele – Cybertron | 1 episode (Pilot) | |
Power Rangers Zeo | 1996 | Tommy Oliver – Zeo Ranger V Red | 50 episodes |
Sweet Valley High | A.J. | 4 episodes | |
Family Matters | Skull | Episode: "Karate Kids" | |
Power Rangers Turbo | 1997 | Tommy Oliver / Red Turbo Ranger | 19 episodes |
Power Rangers: The Lost Episode | 1999 | Tommy Oliver | Archival footage |
Power Rangers Wild Force | 2002 | Tommy Oliver / Zeo Ranger V Red | Credited as Jason Frank Episode: "Forever Red" |
Power Rangers Dino Thunder | 2004 | Dr. Tommy Oliver / Black Dino Ranger | 38 episodes (12 voice only) |
Power Rangers Super Megaforce | 2014 | Dr. Tommy Oliver / Green Ranger / White Ranger | Episode: "Legendary Battle" |
My Morphing Life | 2014–2022 | Himself | Web series |
Transformers: Titans Return | 2017–2018 | Emissary (voice) |
Web series |
Ninjak vs. the Valiant Universe | 2018 | Ray Garrison / Bloodshot | Web series |
Power Rangers Hyperforce | Dr. Tommy Oliver / Black Dino Ranger
Lord Drakkon |
Web series; Episodes: "Dr. Tommy Oliver Returns" "Shattered Grid, part 2" |
|
Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel | Dr. Tommy Oliver / Green Ranger / White Ranger / Zeo Ranger V Red / Black Dino Ranger / Robot Tommy | Episode: "Dimensions in Danger" | |
We Bare Bears | 2019 | Silver Bear (voice) |
Episode: "Imaginary Friend" |
Movies
Film | Year | Portraying | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie | 1995 | Tommy Oliver / The White Power Ranger | |
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie | 1997 | Tommy Oliver / The Red Turbo Ranger | |
Paris | 2003 | Chad (uncredited) | |
The Junior Defenders | 2007 | Tommy Keen | |
Fall Guy: The John Stewart Story | 2007 | John Stewart | |
The Blue Sun | 2010 | ||
Crammed 2: Hoaching | 2011 | Christopher Crammed | |
One Warrior | 2011 | ||
Power Rangers | 2017 | Angel Grove Citizen | Cameo |
Power Rangers: Legacy Wars – Street Fighter Showdown | 2018 | Tommy Oliver | |
Making Fun: The Story of Funko | 2018 | Himself | Documentary |
Legend of the White Dragon | 2023 | Erik Reed / White Dragon | Final role |
Video Games
Video Game | Year | Portraying | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie | 1995 | Tommy / White Ranger | Voice |
Piper | 1996 | Piper Windsong | Video capture |
Power Rangers Dino Thunder | 2004 | Dr. Tommy Oliver / Black Dino Ranger | Voice |
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid | 2019 | Tommy Oliver / Lord Drakkon / Green Ranger / White Ranger | Voice |
Mixed Martial Arts Record
Professional Fights
Professional record breakdown | ||
1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
By knockout | 0 | 0 |
By submission | 1 | 0 |
By decision | 0 | 0 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | Jose Roberto Vasquez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Texas Cage Fighting – Puro Combate 1 | August 4, 2010 | 1 | 0:46 | Houston, Texas, United States |
Amateur Fights
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | Jonathon Mack | Submission (omoplata) | Lonestar Beatdown: Houston | January 30, 2010 | 1 | 1:07 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
Win | 2–0 | Chris Rose | TKO (punches) | Lonestar Beatdown: Dallas | February 19, 2010 | 1 | 2:09 | Arlington, Texas, United States | |
Win | 3–0 | James Willis | KO (knee) | Texas Rage In The Cage: Cage Rage 7 | May 8, 2010 | 1 | 0:23 | McAllen, Texas, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | Carlos Horn | Submission (armbar) | UWC 8: Judgement Day | May 22, 2010 | 1 | 0:21 | Fairfax, Virginia, United States |
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Jason David Frank para niños