On this day in 2001, Thuy Trang, the actress known for playing the original Yellow Ranger on the wildly popular series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, died in a car crash. She was just 27 years old. Trang had been travelling from San Francisco to Los Angeles with a friend, Angela Rockwood, for whom she was meant to be a bridesmaid. Their vehicle, driven by another bridesmaid, swerved off the road and hit a rock face.
Back in 2018, the cast of the original series, celebrating its 25th anniversary in a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, remembered their time with the actress.
Her fellow actors spoke of a warm, hardworking friend who brightened their lives and the lives of the millions of children who watched the show.
Her Lasting Mark
The set of the Command Center was always freezing, recalled Austin St. John, the Red Ranger. “Wearing nothing but spandex, we were all cold. We used to hold each other just to stay warm and chat in between shooting scenes. It was like a brother-and-sister sort of thing.”
The Black Ranger, Walter Emanuel Jones, spoke of a unique energy Trang had. “We were really good friends. I was so proud of the work she was doing in films like The Crow! It hurt my heart to lose her. She was way too young and had so much more to share with the world,” Jones said. “I remember how sweet Thuy was to people. She especially had a way with kids. Her energy drew you in, and her smile made your heart feel safe.”
Read more: Power Rangers Writer Admits Black and Asian Casting as Black and Yellow Rangers Was a “Mistake”
Jason David Frank, the Green Ranger, was partnered with Trang during their audition. He remembered her dedication. “I remember Thuy was always getting hurt on set. She put her all into the scenes, so sometimes things happen. I especially remember her having to be carried around a lot due to getting hurt. She was always so positive and gave her all. I’ll always remember that about her.”
David Yost, the Blue Ranger, heard the terrible news from Amy Jo Johnson, the Pink Ranger. “I was so shocked. I remember calling Thuy’s voicemail a few times after I found out just to hear her voice and leave her a message saying I’ll miss her,” he said. Yost also spoke of his admiration for her difficult childhood.
“Learning about her early childhood and everything she and her family went through leaving Vietnam, becoming refugees, and immigrating to the United States, I admired her and her family’s strength to rebuild their lives here. I’ll always remember her great laugh and infectious smile.”
“I’ll always remember her spunky, strong personality,” Johnson said. “She was such a bright light. It’s hard to believe she’s gone.”
