At the age of 79, Whitney Rydbeck, the gifted actor best recognized for his part in “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,” regrettably passed away. He was receiving hospice care in Chatsworth, California, when he passed away on Monday as a result of complications from prostate cancer.
Tommy McLoughlin, the director of the sixth “Friday the 13th” movie, verified the information by honoring Rydbeck on Instagram.
In addition to being a humorous comic and actor, McLoughlin remembers Rydbeck as one of the most sincere and kind people he has ever met.
“God bless you and rest in peace, Whitney Rydbeck,” he said, expressing his condolences and best wishes to the late actor. Heaven Gains from Our Loss.”
Rydbeck, who was raised in Los Angeles, studied drama at Cal State Fullerton, Pasadena City College, and Pasadena High School. In 1970, he made his acting debut in a “Nanny and the Professor” episode. From there, he went on to star in a number of well-known TV series and films, including “Love at First Bite,” “Rocky II,” and Steven Spielberg’s “1941.”
One of Rydbeck’s most enduring roles was that of paintball soldier Roy in “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives.” In the movie, Roy goes after notorious mass murderer Jason Voorhees, only to be tragically taken as one of his victims.
In addition to his acting career, Rydbeck became well-known in the 1980s as “Larry,” a crash test dummy used in seat belt safety PSAs. In these commercials, Tony Reitano and Rydbeck illustrated the dire repercussions of not using a seat belt and the severe harm that can result from (fake) auto accidents. The well-known statement, “You could learn a lot from a dummy,” was used to end the commercials. Put on your safety belt.
Rydbeck credited his background as a mime for his success in the commercial role. God forbid you had to use the restroom during the filming, he joked, adding that wearing masks affected their speech, hearing, and eyesight. Additionally, he underlined the value of using a seat belt by saying, “I always buckle up, I’ll tell you that.”
With roles in movies and television series like “7th Heaven,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Living Single,” and “Party of Five,” Rydbeck continued to leave his imprint throughout the 1980s and 1990s. “Oliver & Company,” “A Very Brady Sequel,” and “Murder of Innocence” were among the films he was involved with. Rydbeck made the decision to give up acting after appearing in the 2007 short film “The Oates’ Valor,” and it is said that he went on to teach drama at Pasadena City College.
Fans and coworkers will always respect Whitney Rydbeck’s legacy as a gifted actor and a good-hearted person. His contributions to the entertainment business will never go out of style, and the iconic characters he created for television will live on in his legacy. I hope he finds peace.