The Power Rangers franchise has a legacy complicated by tragic off-screen deaths and intense production struggles.
Real-Life Tragedies & The “Power Rangers Curse”
Thuy Trang’s Tragic Death: In September 2001, the original Yellow Ranger was a passenger in a car that struck loose gravel on Interstate 5 between San Jose and Los Angeles. The vehicle hit a rock face and flipped several times; Trang died from internal injuries while being airlifted to a hospital at age 27.
Jason David Frank’s Suicide: The most iconic star of the franchise, Jason David Frank (Tommy Oliver), was found dead by suicide in a Houston hotel room in November 2022. His wife, Tammie, later clarified that he had been struggling with depression and the loss of several family members to suicide.
Ricardo Medina Jr. Convicted of Manslaughter: In 2015, the Wild Force Red Ranger stabbed his roommate, Joshua Sutter, to death with a Conan-style broadsword during an argument over Medina’s girlfriend. Medina pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison in 2017.
Pua Magasiva’s Domestic Violence & Suicide: The Ninja Storm Red Ranger took his own life in a hotel room in May 2019. Following his death, a court-ordered name suppression was lifted, revealing he had been convicted of domestic violence against his wife just weeks prior.
Skylar Deleon’s Death Row Sentence: While only a child extra in a 1994 episode, Deleon was later convicted of the 2004 murders of a couple who were tied to an anchor and thrown off their yacht. Deleon was sentenced to death in California.
The Death of Erik Frank: Jason David Frank’s older brother, who played Tommy’s brother David Trueheart in Power Rangers Zeo, died in 2001. His death was a significant factor in why Jason David Frank could not attend Thuy Trang’s funeral.
Robert L. Manahan’s Aneurysm: The actor who provided the iconic voice for Zordon from 1993 to 1998 passed away in June 2000 from a heart aneurysm at the age of 43.
Machiko Soga’s Cancer: The Japanese actress whose Sentai footage was used for the original Rita Repulsa passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2006.
Richard Genelle’s Heart Attack: The actor who played Ernie, the owner of the Angel Grove Youth Center, suffered a fatal heart attack in 2008 at age 47.
The Murder of a Young Fan: In 1994, the show was temporarily pulled from Norwegian airwaves after a 5-year-old girl was accidentally killed by friends while reenacting the show’s fighting.
