The widow of Power Rangers star Jason David Frank has opened up about his death and the final moments they shared.
Frank, who was best known for playing Tommy Oliver, the Green Ranger in hit Nineties kids’ TV series Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, left fans shocked by his sudden death on November 19, aged 49.
Now, his wife of 19 years, Tammie Frank, has confirmed that he died by suicide.
“My name is Tammie Frank, and my husband was Jason David Frank, who tragically lost his life to suicide just last week,” she told People magazine in an extended statement.
“While Jason was a well-known name to some, we lived a very normal life with ups and downs, just like anyone else.
“It has shocked and saddened me beyond belief to see that the media has turned my family’s tragedy into a tall tale. Since Jason’s death, I have been harassed online and can no longer stand to watch my husband’s good name slandered.”
She continued by sharing that his death came as a complete surprise to her.
“The truth is, I had no idea that Jason was thinking of ending things,” she explained. “Yes, he had struggled with mental health issues and depression before, but I could never predict what would happen that night.”
According to Tammie, Frank died while they were on a short holiday together after deciding to end their marital separation and rekindle their relationship.
He was human, just like the rest of us
“It was meant to be a fun weekend getaway, and instead, I lost the love of my life. Jason was a good man, but he was not without his demons. He was human, just like the rest of us,” she added.
After enjoying a night of dancing, Tammie and Jason returned to their hotel where they had “a heartfelt and emotional talk”.
“To help Jason relax and sober up before turning down to sleep, I went downstairs to get us snacks from the lobby. I must’ve been gone no more than 10 minutes. I went back upstairs and began knocking on the door to no answer. I knocked repeatedly and kept calling for his name to open the door,” she recalled.
“I don’t know if the hotel staff or a guest called the police, but after I was taken downstairs by the police, they were able to open the door and found that Jason took his life.”
Tammie concluded her statement by thanking fans for their support and asking for space to grieve.
“All we want is to remember Jason and our happiest memories, and move on from the pain of losing a loved one. I only ask for sympathy and understanding during this difficult time,” she said.
Jason is survived by his and Tammie’s 18-year-old daughter Jenna, along with three grown-up children from a previous marriage.
