Jason David Frank: MMA pal Mike Bronzoulis says 'Power Rangers' star battled 'inner demons' for years
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jason David Frank was well known for his heroism on-screen, but a friend insisted he was a real-life hero as he battled mental health issues for years on end.
Veteran MMA fighter Mike Bronzoulis, one of Jason's closest pals, said the 'Power Rangers' star was always candid with him about his bouts of depression and mental health struggles. However, he kept it hidden from most people. The tragic star was found hanging in a hotel bathroom in Texas on November 19, hours after an alleged argument with his wife Tammie, who called the authorities out of concern for his safety after he reportedly locked her out of his room.
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Speaking to TMZ, Mike said Jason had lost multiple family members to suicide, and his mother succumbed to cancer a few years ago. The spate of deaths took quite the toll on him, and "despite having tons of friends and getting love from thousands of fans, he often felt very lonely."
Jason apparently kept a busy schedule and tried to find peace by motivating his fans, "whether it be meeting in person or posting videos on social media." Mike told TMZ that he last spoke to Jason about a week before his death. He reportedly even received a voicemail from the embattled actor, "saying he needed to talk, and he was going through a lot." However, Mike didn't open the voicemail until after Jason died. The Bellator fighter said he and Jason's other pals "will always remember him as an incredibly giving person ... but one who also wrestled with inner demons."
MEAWW previously reported how the actor spoke about losing a lot of his close friends to suicide in an old interview. "I’ve lost a lot of people through suicide," JDF said in a 2014 interview with The Young Folks, "and when I’m on Instagram or social media, I try to look for that person that might need my help, you know what I mean? We all do; you know I’m not all happy all the time. People look at my Instagram and think, 'Oh, what a great, cheerful life', but it would be silly to tell you that I don’t go through dark days, I don’t have my times, and I don’t have my anger issues and all that stuff. We all do, but nobody wants to see it, nobody wants to hear that; the fans don’t want to hear that. I mean, I’ve got deep stories, like 'I didn’t have a dad, I didn’t have a family, and Power Rangers saved me from committing suicide.'"
Jason added, "I didn’t have a lot of self-esteem when I was little, and I was shy and I was quiet, opposite of what I am now. Number one fear in America is Public Speaking; people can’t look in the eye. I [couldn’t] do what you do having a thousand people [watch you speak], but I can do it, and I guess it got in touch with my personality." According to a report by TMZ, Jason's ex-wife Tammie filed for divorce in August, just two months before he ended his life. He is now survived by his four children, namely Jenna, Jacob, Skye, and Hunter.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).