Friday The 13th Star Whitney Rydbeck Dies of Cancer At 79

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As a devoted fan and admirer of Whitney Rydbeck‘s remarkable career and life journey, I can’t help but feel deeply saddened by the news of his passing at 79 due to cancer complications. His legacy in the world of entertainment will forever be etched in our hearts, not just for his physical comedy and mime work that brought joy to countless audiences, but also for his genuine kindness and good-hearted nature that touched the lives of those around him.

Whitney Rydbeck passed away at the age of 79. His life was taken by the complexities of prostate cancer. He gained recognition for his hilarious physical comedy and mime performances. In the horror movie “Friday the 13th Part VI,” he portrayed a paintball soldier. Additionally, he was among the pioneers in the crash test dummy series that advocated for seat belt safety.

Whitney Rydbeck passes away due to cancer

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Monday marked the passing of Rydbeck in a hospice facility located in Chatsworth, California. His friend and longtime director, Tommy McLaughlin, confirmed that he succumbed to complications from cancer.

Tommy McLaughlin, who frequently collaborated with him, described him as more than just a funny performer or actor; he was genuinely kind-hearted.

Rydbeck made guest appearances on various television programs throughout his career, such as “The Brady Bunch,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Scrubs,” “Phyllis,” “MASH,” “Cagney & Lacey,” “Highway to Heaven,” and “Sisters,” among others.

McLoughlin paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Whitney Rydbeck on Instagram, expressing: “We’ve lost more than just a talented comedian and actor; we’ve lost one of the kindest souls I’ve ever encountered. My condolences, God bless you, and may you find eternal peace – Whitney Rydbeck. A profound loss for us, but a gain for heaven.”

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Revisiting Whitney Rydbeck’s legacy

In the sixth installment of the Friday the 13th series, released in 1986, Rydbeck portrayed the role of Roy. This character was a soldier specializing in paintball. Sadly, Roy met his demise at the hands of Jason Voorhees in the movie.

Instead of just acting in films, Rydbeck produced humorous public service announcements starting from 1985, featuring his popular characters Larry and Vince. These advertisements aimed to show the consequences of not wearing seat belts, using the memorable tagline “Learn From a Dummy.”

Born on March 13, 1945, in Los Angeles, Whitney Rydbeck entered the world of mime performing in the early 1970s. He became a valued member of both Richmond Shepard Mime Troupe and L.A. Mime Company, founded by McLoughlin, who praised his exceptional skill in physical comedy to the media.

In the world of acting, his career can be followed back to the year 1970 when he made his TV debut on Nanny and the Professor. Then, in 1973, he took on the role of a silent robot in Woody Allen’s film Sleeper. Throughout the late 70s, he made appearances in various films including Love at First Bite (1979), Rocky II (1979), and Steven Spielberg’s 1941 (1979). Notably, in 1979, he starred as a cab driver who becomes friends with an alien robot on the children’s show Whitney and the Robot.

Rydbeck has appeared in films including “Oliver & Company” from 1988 and “A Very Brady Sequel” in 1996. He has also graced various TV shows such as “Far Out Space Nuts,” “Lassie,” “7th Heaven,” and “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” among others. More recently, he has taken up a teaching role at Pasadena City College, focusing on drama instruction.

He is survived by Claire, his girlfriend of ten years.

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2024-07-21 06:52