‘Friday the 13th’ Actor Whitney Rydbeck Passes Away at 79

Whitney Rydbeck, an actor fondly remembered for his role in “Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI,” passed away on July 15. Rydbeck, aged 79, had been under hospice care due to cancer.

Tommy McLoughlin, a longtime friend and director of “Jason Lives,” paid tribute to him on Instagram, stating, “We lost not only a truly funny comedian and actor…but one of the most good-hearted human beings I’ve ever known. God Bless You and Rest in Peace..Whitney Rydbeck. Our Loss is Heavens’ Gain.”

Rydbeck’s notable role in the 1986 film saw him portray nerdy character Roy, distinguished by goggles on top of his glasses while playing a paintball game that ends tragically for him.

In addition to his film work, Rydbeck gained recognition through a series of iconic advertisements alongside Tony Reitano. The duo, playing crash-test dummies Larry and Vince, promoted seatbelt usage with the memorable tagline, “You could learn a lot from a dummy. Buckle your safety belt.” These advertisements found a lasting place in the Smithsonian.

Born on March 13, 1945, Rydbeck pursued acting in college and was a member of the Richard Shepard Mime Troupe. His acting debut came in 1970 on the TV show “Nanny and the Professor.” He was also hired for his mime skills to play a robot in Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” in 1973.

Rydbeck appeared in numerous TV shows, including “The Brady Bunch” (1971), “Lassie” (1972), “Far Out Space Nuts” (1975), “Wonderbug” (1976), “M*A*S*H” (1979), “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1989), and “Murder, She Wrote” (1989-1994).

His filmography extends to movies like “Love at First Bite” (1979), “Rocky II” (1979), Steven Spielberg’s “1941” (1979), “Oliver & Company” (voice; 1988), “A Very Brady Sequel” (1996), and “Angels with Angles” (2005), where he portrayed Hollywood legend Jack Benny. A children’s TV series, “Whitney and the Robot,” centered around him and aired in 1979.

Later in his career, Rydbeck devoted his time to teaching drama at Pasadena City College. He leaves behind his partner, Claire.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter