Netflix is once again tickling our nostalgia, this time with the official release of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always.
The 55-minute streaming special arrived on Netflix on April 19, and quickly earned praise for finally nailing millennial nostalgia. By bringing back treasured favorites, while also introducing several new characters, fans got the chance to re-live beloved childhood memories without simply rewatching old content. A number of the original show’s staples made a return for its 30th anniversary celebration, and fans are seeking out familiar faces as they enjoy Netflix’s latest offering. Not every member of the original cast was able to appear in the series, unfortunately, leaving fans of a few favorites wanting more.
Did Jason David Frank return for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always?
Among the original cast of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Jason David Frank was a longtime favorite. He played Tommy Oliver, best known as the Green Ranger, across a full 124 episodes of the original series. Once the timeless series concluded, Frank proceeded to return to the character dozens of times, lending his talent to a range of Power Rangers projects including Power Rangers Zeo, Power Rangers Super Megaforce, and Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel. He even returned to the role for a handful of Power Rangers films and video games, so listen for his voice in 2019’s Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid or watch for him in 2018’s Power Rangers: Legacy Wars – Street Fighter Showdown.
There’s no doubt Frank would have returned for Once and Always if he could have, alongside fellow staples of the story David Yost, who plays Blue Ranger Billy Cranston, Steve Cardenas, who plays second Red Ranger Rocky DeSantos, Johnny Yong Bosch, who long ago established himself as second Black Ranger Adam Park, Karan Ashley, who returned as second Yellow Ranger Aisha Campbell, and Catherine Sutherland as second Pink Ranger Katherine “Kat” Hillard. Even Richard Horvitz, known for lending his voice to Zim in Invader Zim, Raz in Psychonauts, and a range of Power Rangers projects, returned to once again lend his iconic voice to the franchise.
Jason David Frank, unfortunately, was not among the returning cast. The beloved actor passed away in 2022, tragically robbing fans of the opportunity to see him appear as the iconic Green or White Power Ranger one last time. His character did appear in the special, however, suited up as the Green Ranger but played by an alternate actor. The Green Ranger, alongside the Pink Ranger and the Red Ranger, were promptly kidnapped by Robo Rita at the outset of the story, so she could steal their power to fuel her machine and create a time portal.
So, while you may have recognized Frank’s iconic green suit, the actor within was not the Power Rangers staple. The world lost him a touch too early for the star to return to his longstanding franchise for a final time, but he’s remembered through a lovely dedication — made to both he and the original Yellow Ranger, Thuy Trang.
