Whitney Rydbeck, best known for his role in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, has passed away at 79 from complications of prostate cancer. He died on Monday in hospice care in Chatsworth, California.
Rydbeck’s death was confirmed by Friday the 13th director Tommy McLoughlin, who remembered him as not only a talented actor and comedian but also one of the kindest people he knew. McLoughlin paid tribute on Instagram, saying, “God Bless You and Rest in Peace… Our Loss is Heaven’s Gain.”
Born in Los Angeles, Rydbeck’s acting career spanned decades. He appeared in shows like The Brady Bunch, MASH*, and Monster Squad, and films like Love at First Bite and Rocky II. His portrayal of Roy in Jason Lives, a character who tries to kill Jason but becomes one of his victims, remains one of his most memorable roles.
In the 1980s, Rydbeck also became the face of a popular seat belt safety campaign as a crash test dummy named “Larry.” He continued acting through the 1990s in TV shows such as 7th Heaven, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Murder, She Wrote. After retiring from acting, he taught drama at Pasadena City College.
Rydbeck’s legacy as an actor and a genuinely kind person will be remembered fondly by those who knew him. May he rest in peace.
