Movies - TV
Jason David Frank Turned A 10-Episode Contract Into A Nearly 30-Year Career
By RAFAEL MOTAMAYOR
With over 500 rangers and over 900 episodes across three decades' worth of seasons, "Power Rangers" surprisingly has been defined by a single face, the one that got the most character development over the years: Tommy Oliver, as played by the late Jason David Frank. Tommy is one of the most endearing — and most iconic — characters on the show.
Tommy Oliver was first introduced in the original series' five-part episode "Green with Evil" as a new student at Angel Grove High School. Right from the get-go, Frank’s portrayal of Tommy was the epitome of the show's idea of "teenagers with attitude," which allowed the actor to turn his 10-episode guest-starring role into a 30-year career.
Throughout his time on the show, Frank played Tommy as a bonafide superhero, a teenager with great bravery who had gone through hell and come back wiser and stronger. It was only when Tommy was sent to college that he gave up the mantle of Ranger, as "Power Rangers" gave us something extremely rare for this kind of franchise: closure.
Seven years after Frank’s departure, though, he made a surprising and triumphant return in "Power Rangers: Dino Thunder." What could have easily been a desperate attempt at bringing attention to a declining franchise instead became the show's best use of Frank since his stint as a villain, and Tommy's best role: as a mentor.