A talented actor named Whitney Rydbeck has died at the age of 79. He was best known for his part in “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives.” His prostate cancer caused complications that led to his death on Monday. He was in hospice care in Chatsworth, California.
Tommy McLoughlin, who directed the sixth “Friday the 13th” movie, confirmed the news on Instagram by paying tribute to Rydbeck.
McLoughlin remembers Rydbeck with fondness as one of the most honest and kind people he has ever met, as well as a funny comedian and actor.
“God bless you and rest in peace, Whitney Rydbeck,” he said to show his sympathy and wish the actor a speedy recovery. “What we lose, heaven gains.”
Rydbeck was born in Los Angeles and went to Pasadena City College, Pasadena High School, and Cal State Fullerton to study theater. In 1970, he got his start as an actor in an episode of “Nanny and the Professor.” He then went on to star in hit TV shows like “The Brady Bunch,” “MAS*H,” and “Monster Squad,” as well as movies like “Love at First Bite,” “Rocky II,” and Steven Spielberg’s “1941.”
Roy, a paintball soldier played by Rydbeck in “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,” became one of his most famous roles. In the movie, Roy tries to kill the notorious serial killer Jason Voorhees but ends up becoming one of his victims.
As well as being an actor, Rydbeck became famous in the 1980s as “Larry,” the crash test dummy he played in PSAs about wearing a seat belt. In these ads, Rydbeck and Tony Reitano showed what would happen if people didn’t wear seat belts by showing how bad (fake) car accidents would be.
“You could learn a lot from a dummy” was the famous line that ended the ads. Put on your seat belt.
