First there was the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, followed by Power Rangers Ninja Force, Power Rangers in Space, Power Rangers Benefit Thieves, and finally, Power Rangers and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Well maybe not those last two, but let's just say they really milked it.
But never mind all the pretenders, what became of the real deal? The original five who guided us through those might morphin' Saturday mornings all those years ago? Surely they're sat on their thrones, draped in riches, knowing they will be a vital part of 90s popular culture forever?
Well, not quite.
THE RED RANGER - AUSTIN ST. JOHN
While an imposter Red Ranger from Power Rangers Wild Force went on to stab his roommate with a sword, the original (and best) Red Ranger, Jason, just kept honing his mad Taekwondo skills. Austin St. John has been practicing the discipline since the age of five, and still is to this day.
St. John actually left the show midway through the second season because he wasn't getting paid enough. He briefly returned to play the Gold Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo (no, me neither), but was last heard to be working as a paramedic in Washington D.C.
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THE BLUE RANGER - DAVID YOST
Yost quit the show after years of homophobic bullying from the crew. The producers later claimed it was because of a pay dispute. After leaving the show, Yost was hospitalised following a nervous breakdown, an incident which would spur him to move to Mexico.
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Yost eventually accepted his sexual identity. He has since become a campaigner for NOH8 - an organisation promoting equality for LGBT people.
Fun Fact: his character's name, Billy Cranston, was actually based on THAT Bryan Cranston, because Cranston was doing voice work for Power Rangers producer Haim Saban at the time.
THE PINK RANGER - AMY JO JOHNSON
Probably the first girl you ever fancied who wasn't a cartoon character. Johnson was already an established gymnast when she landed her role, which made her perfect for high-kicking men in monster suits.
She even has three studio albums out because she's a musician too.
THE GREEN/WHITE RANGER - JASON DAVID FRANK
The OG of the Power Rangers universe. A heel turned face in true WWE fashion. In his first couple of appearances he sparred with the Red Ranger, destroyed the Power Rangers command center, and made himself a nuisance with a trendy flute dagger thing.
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After a hugely convoluted narrative, the Green Ranger ended up becoming mates with the other rangers. He also went on to become a much bigger character than any of them.
Jason David Frank has since starred in many other series of the show that you've never watched. In 2013, he featured in Power Rangers Super MegaForce. Bummed I missed that one.
Outside of the franchise, Frank fought several Mixed Martial Arts bouts in 2010 and remains undefeated.
THE BLACK RANGER - WALTER EMANUEL JONES
In hindsight, it seems a bit un-PC that the Black Ranger was played by the show's only black actor. Complex even named Mighty Morphin' the eleventh most racist TV show of all time for this reason (and a few others). That might be a stretch, but it's safe to say the casting might have carried a little less sub-text if the show was made today.
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Besides playing the Black Ranger, Walter Jones also voiced many of the villains and monsters on the show.
Since leaving the show over, yep, pay disputes, he went on to briefly star in Buffy, The Shield, and he had a cameo in the worst Fast & Furious movie (Tokyo Drift).
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Also, according to IMDb, he's missing the middle finger on his left hand.
THE YELLOW RANGER - THUY TRANG
Trang's family originated from Vietnam but fled the country in the 70s to start a new life in the US.
Landing a job in one of the decade's most popular TV shows was definitely a great start for Thuy. She stayed on the show for one and a half seasons before leaving along with Emanuel Jones and St. John.
Trang tragically died in a car crash in 2001. Her Power Rangers co-stars Amy Jo Johnson, Austin St. John, Walter Emanuel Jones and David Yost were among those in attendance at her funeral.
The episode 'Circuit Unsure' of the Power Rangers Time Force series was dedicated to her memory.
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