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Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives actor Whitney Rydbeck died last Monday (July 15) from prostate cancer complications, per TMZ and The Hollywood Reporter. He was 79.
His passing was verified to the outlet by the film’s director and the late actor’s friend, Tommy McLoughlin, who said that Rydbeck died in hospice in Chatsworth, California.
Rydbeck and McLoughlin’s relationship seemingly precedes the 1986 installment to the horror film franchise. THR reports that the two were involved in the Richmond Shepard Mime Troupe and the L.A. Mime Company, the latter of which McLoughlin founded.
Aside from the sixth Friday The 13th film, in which Rydbeck played Roy, he’s also credited on Love at First Bite, Rocky II, 1941, Oliver & Company and A Very Brady Sequel.
With respect to TV, Rydbeck appeared on a slew of series over the course of his decades-long career, beginning with Nanny and the Professor in 1970. Other shows he appeared on include The Brady Bunch, Lassie, M*A*S*H, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Grace Under Fire, 7th Heaven, Party of Five and Scrubs.
Per THR, Rydbeck also earned acclaim from starring in an iconic campaign promoting seatbelt use, in which he portrayed a crash test dummy named “Larry.” According to Deadline, one of his original outfits he wore in the campaign — which featured the tagline of “You could learn a lot from a dummy” — landed at the Smithsonian.
Born on March 13, 1945 in Los Angeles, Rydbeck went to Pasadena High School, Pasadena City College, and Cal State Fullerton, per THR. Rydbeck would eventually return to Pasadena City College to teach drama, per THR and TMZ.
McLoughlin also took to Instagram to mourn Rydbeck’s passing, writing, in part, “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,” he added.
Among his survivors are his girlfriend, Claire, per THR.
