Jason David Frank’s wife is speaking out about his death, which she confirms was a result ofsuicide.
Now, Tammie is speaking exclusively with PEOPLE on behalf of their family in hopes of setting the record straight about Jason’s final night and helping others with similar mental health struggles.
“My name is Tammie Frank, and my husband was Jason David Frank, who tragically lost his life to suicide just last week,” she says. “While Jason was a well-known name to some, we lived a very normal life with ups and downs, just like anyone else. It has shocked and saddened me beyond belief to see that the media has turned my family’s tragedy into a tall tale. Since Jason’s death, I have been harassed online and can no longer stand to watch my husband’s good name slandered.”
Jason David Frank.Amanda Edwards/Getty
“I loved my husband, and we were trying to work through our problems. His death comes as much a shock to me as anyone else,” she continues. “The truth is, I had no idea that Jason was thinking of ending things. Yes, he had struggled with mental health issues and depression before, but I could never predict what would happen that night.”
She adds, “It was meant to be a fun weekend getaway, and instead, I lost the love of my life. Jason was a good man, but he was not without his demons. He was human, just like the rest of us.”
Jason David Frank and wife Tammie Frank.Tammie Frank/Instagram
Continuing her statement, Tammie recalls what happened on the evening on Nov. 19, shortly after “reconciling our relationship.”
“We initially planned to separate; that part is true. However, that is only part of the story. The part that hasn’t been told is that at the time of his passing, we had called off our separation and were in the process of reuniting,” she notes. “Don’t get me wrong, we had ups and downs and many troubles during our 19-year marriage, but this was an especially hard year for us.”
Tammie says she and Jason decided to separate at that time, “not knowing what else to do.” However, about six weeks ago, they decided to rekindle their romance after a close family friend “helped us realize that we still loved each other and we should not give up just yet.”
Still, the pair knew they “needed to take it slow and work out any issues.” As part of their plan to reconnect, Jason planned a two-night getaway, in which the two attended a country dancing event — something Tammie says Jason knew she loved to do.
Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images
Despite being there together, Tammie notes they got two hotel rooms for the getaway “because that’s just how we do things — simply put, my husband snored.”
She also admits they received a noise complaint from hotel guests that night, but clarifies it was due to “us enjoying the weekend and having some fun - not arguing or fighting.”
Concluding her statement, Tammie asks that people “stop making assumptions and leave my family to grieve peacefully.”
“All we want is to remember Jason and our happiest memories, and move on from the pain of losing a loved one. I only ask for sympathy and understanding during this difficult time,” she says. “To all the fans and supporters of Jason and our family, thank you for your kind words and wishes and God bless you all.”
When news of Jason’s death broke on Nov. 20, a rep for the actorconfirmed the tragedy in a statement to PEOPLE.
“Unfortunately, it is true. Please respect the privacy of his family and friends during this horrible time as we come to terms with the loss of such a wonderful human being,” the statement read. “He loved his family, friends and fans very much. He will be truly missed.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The actor and mixed martial artist was most beloved for his role as Tommy Oliver (a.k.a. the Green/White Ranger) from the originalMighty Morphin Power Rangersshow, which ran from 1993 to 1995, as well as the 1995 movie adaptation.
Jason reprised the role in many other projects in the franchise over the years, includingPower Rangers Zeo(1996),Power Rangers Turbo(1997) andDino Thunder(2004). He even made a cameo alongside costarAmy Jo Johnson(Kimberly Hart, a.k.a. Pink Ranger) in the 2017reboot.
His other credits included the 1990s teen soapSweet Valley Highand episodes ofFamily MattersandWe Bare Bears. His upcoming projects includedUnderdogs RisingandLegend of the White Dragon, according to hisIMDb.
source: people.com
