Whitney Rydbeck, a beloved actor who had a small but memorable part in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, has died.
The 79-year-old Hollywood veteran had been in more than 50 movies and TV shows.
Whitney died because of problems with her prostate cancer.
While getting hospice care in Chatsworth, California, the actor’s life came to an end.
His longtime friend and Jason Lives director Tommy McLoughlin told The Hollywood Reporter that the news was true.
Fans really liked his part as a paintball soldier in the scary sequel who tried to shoot Jason Vorhees while wearing a hockey mask, but it didn’t work out.
In an emotional Instagram post on Saturday, McLoughlin also talked about the actor’s life and legacy.
“We lost not only a truly funny comedian and actor … but one of the most good-hearted human beings I’ve ever known,” he wrote.
“Much-needed bad news”
Fans wrote sad comments about Whitney’s death and shared memories of him on-screen.
“His comedic act, panic, naivety, and lack of paintball skills added a lot to Jason Lives.” Some people remember this guy from paintballing, even though they only saw him on TV for a few minutes. That is a very sad loss. “Thank you,” one wrote.
“Man, that’s devastating news. He was great, and Jason Lives was funny and easy to remember,” wrote someone else.
“The man did a lot with a small part.” I hope you rest in peace,” wrote a third.
May you rest in peace. A fourth person wrote, “He stole the show!”
It means “wrote the part for him.”
The director of Jason Lives also made a very moving statement to the horror movie website Bloody Disgusting on Saturday.
“I’m so sorry to say that we lost the very talented physical comedian and actor Whitney Rydbeck on Monday night.”
“He played dull businessman and paintball player Roy.” Fans and audiences still laugh at his comedic work after almost 40 years.
“I wrote Roy’s part in Jason Lives just for him because I knew how talented he was.” In the last few decades, we also became good friends.
“He is truly the nicest, most loving person I have ever met.” It has been heartbreaking to see him struggle with cancer for the past year and a half.
“He was on stage with almost the whole cast of Jason Lives a year ago at an American Cinematique screening that was sold out.” Fans laughed at his stories and antics, even though he was sick.
INCREDIBLE HISTORY
Whitney was born near Los Angeles on March 13, 1945. She went to Pasadena High School and graduated.
He then studied theater at Pasadena City College and then Cal State Fullerton.
He got his start in TV with a small part in Nanny and the Professor in 1970. After that, he kept getting parts.
From 1970 to 2007, Whitney was in movies and TV shows that weren’t scary.
Some of these shows were Scrubs, The Brady Bunch, Lassie, Rocky II, MAS*H, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Murder, She Wrote, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and 7th Heaven.
His most famous role was as crash test dummy “Larry” in TV ads that told people to buckle up.
The Smithsonian now has one of Whitney’s original PSA clothes.
The actor taught theater at Pasadena City College not long ago.
Claire, his longtime partner, will miss him.
