Ted White, Jason Voorhees actor, has died at 96

Ted White, known for portraying Jason Voorhees in the movie Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, has died at the age of 96.

According to horror historian and convention runner Sean Clark, White died peacefully in his sleep at his home. “I just got hit with the news that my dear friend Ted White has passed away. I was told he passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home.

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him and working with him for close to 20 years. He was my adopted grandpa and hands down the best storyteller you could have ever met. If you haven’t read it yet check out his book Cast a Giant Shadow where many of those stories are told.”

Clark continued by saying: “I am going to miss you immensely and those steak dinners we always had. Also teasing you about your red, white & blue banner that made you look like you were running for President. It was an absolute honor, my friend. Rest easy. Love you Ted.”

Ted White doubled for John Wayne, Fess Parker, Clark Gable, and Richard Boone. He additionally starred in classic sci-fi and genre movies. He had roles in Tron and Romancing the Stone back in the 80s and was a stunt performer in several films like Planet of the Apes, Soylent Green and Short Circuit.

Back in 1984, White became one of the actors to star as Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th franchise. He was not the first actor to portray Voorhees, however, with Ari Lehman playing young Jason in the original film and Steve Daskewisz starring as a masked Jason in Friday the 13th Fart II. Warrington Gillette played Jason’s unmasked self with Daskewisz.

Richard Brooker played Jason Voorhees with the iconic hockey mask back the film Friday the 13th Part III.

Related: These are the top ten scariest horror movies about cults


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Zainah Yousef is the author of The Fallen Age Saga and specializes in gaming, social media advice, and reviews. She's been writing all her life and she probably won't stop anytime soon.