Whitney Rydbeck, the actor best known for his role in “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,” died at the age of 79. He passed away last Monday from prostate cancer complications while in hospice care in Chatsworth, California.
Tommy McLoughlin, who directed the sixth “Friday the 13th” film, confirmed Rydbeck’s death to The Hollywood Reporter. He also shared a tribute to the late actor on Instagram.
“We lost not only a truly funny comedian and actor…but one of the most good hearted human beings I’ve ever known,” McLoughlin, 74, wrote.“God Bless You and Rest in Peace..Whitney Rydbeck. Our Loss is Heavens’ Gain,” he added.
Rydbeck was born in Los Angeles. He attended Pasadena High School, Pasadena City College and then Cal State Fullerton, where he studied theater. He later became a mime.
He made his acting debut in an episode of “Nanny and the Professor” in 1970, according to his IMDb.
Over the next decade, Rydbeck landed roles in hit shows like “The Brady Bunch,” “M*A*S*H,” and “Monster Squad.” He also made appearances in films like “Love at First Bite,” “Rocky II” and Steven Spielberg’s “1941.”
In 1986’s “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,” Rydbeck played Roy, a paintball soldier who tries to kill mass murderer Jason Voorhees, but ends up becoming one of his victims.
Rydbeck was also known for being a crash test dummy named “Larry” in seat belt safety PSAs in the 1980s.
In the campaign, Rydbeck and Tony Reitano fail to strap in and they are seriously damaged in (fake) car accidents.
The PSAs ended with the line “You could learn a lot from a dummy. Buckle your safety belt.”
Rydbeck told the Washington Post in 2010 that his experience being a mime helped him with the commercial role.
He also said they couldn’t hear, see or talk in the masks they had to wear.
“God forbid you had to go to the bathroom,” Rydbeck said.
“I always buckle up, I’ll tell you that,” he also shared in the interview.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Rydbeck’s acting credits included the shows “7th Heaven,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Living Single” and “Party of Five.”
His movie appearances included “Oliver & Company,” “A Very Brady Sequel” and “Murder of Innocence.”
Rydbeck retired from acting after the 2007 short film “The Oates’ Valor.”
More recently, he was reportedly a drama teacher at Pasadena City College.