When Mighty Morphin Power Rangers debuted on August 28th 1993, nobody could have known it would become the massive multi-media powerhouse it is today selling billions worth of toys, video games, clothing, and other branded merchandise from the various incarnations of the show. Once upon a time, it was this weird, but awesome, show featuring a handful of teenagers with attitude.

While none of those original teenagers or other cast members have come quite as far as Saban's Power Rangers franchise, none have even launched a massive career like many former Mouseketeers, but that doesn't mean they haven't found their own successes.

With a brand new era of the Power Rangers franchise about to launch, let's take a look back at the legendary original cast. Where Are They Now? The Cast of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

16. Machiko Soga - Rita Repulsa

Character: Rita Repulsa

Episodes: 85

Machiko Soga was a Japanese singer and voice actress who played the villain Bandora on the Japanese show Super Sentai Zyuranger. The character moments were all recast with American actors and rebranded Mighty Morphin Power Rangers for American audiences, ironically making the voice actress’ most popular role, Rita Repulsa, a character that didn’t actually use her voice after the English dubbing. Even more ironic: when the American version of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers eventually came to Japan, Machiko redubbed herself to translate the english dialogue, as her original dialogue couldn’t be re-used due to story changes (you know those dense Power Rangers stories).

Soga did occasional work on other Japanese Super Sentai series in addition to a handful of voice roles in anime and video games. After her death from pancreatic cancer in 2006, Power Rangers Mystic Force - the variation of the franchise on the air at the time - redubbed footage from her role in the most recent Super Sentai series Mahou sentai Magirenjâ to feature a character called the “Mystic Mother”, who was revealed to be a reformed Rita Repulsa as a tribute.

15. Richard Genelle - Ernie

Character: Ernie

Episodes: 118

While the cast of Rangers themselves shuffled in and out fairly regularly, several other roles were much more permanent fixtures, such as Richard Genelle as Ernie. Ernie could be found behind the counter at the “Gym and Juice Bar” in Angel Grove’s youth center where the Rangers regularly hung out and trained during their downtime (which was basically whenever they weren’t being rangers).

Genelle continued playing Ernie several episodes into Power Rangers Zeo, then returned again for Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie in 1997, but his career with the Power Rangers franchise, and acting in general, didn’t extend beyond that. After his retirement from showbiz, Richard opened his own company, Retain Logistics Solutions Inc. Richard tragically passed away from a heart attack at the age of 47. His obituary doesn’t mention Power Rangers, instead focusing on his Fantasy Football prowess, crediting him as a three time league champion in four years.

14. Jason Narvy - Skull

Character: Eugene ‘Skull’ Skullovitch

Episodes: 146

Over the years, different Power Rangers have come and gone, but one thing has always been constant: Bulk and Skull, with the thinner of the two roles being Skull, played by Jason Narvy. Serving primarily (if not exclusively) as comedic relief, Skull was often the butt of every gag, submitting to the schemes of his larger partner in crime, Bulk.

In addition to his acting role, Narvy served as an assistant director for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, also appearing in the Power Rangers spin-off show, Masked Rider, providing the voice of the Combat Chopper. After MMPR, Narvy appeared in six other Power Rangers iterations, reprising the role of Skull for each, making a total of 248 episodes and 5 movies, most recently appearing in Power Rangers Samurai in 2012.

Outside of Power Rangers, Narvy appeared in Wicked Game with former Black Ranger, Johnny Yong Bosch, as well as multiple stage productions. He has a PhD in Theater Studies and has even worked in the Theater Department at Concordia University in Chicago.

13. Paul Shrier - Bulk

Character: Farkas 'Bulk' Bulkmeier

Episodes: 148

Attached at the hip with Richard Narvy’s ‘Skull’, Paul Shrier made up the other half of the duo as ‘Bulk’. Shrier is the longest running cast member, appearing in nine different incarnations of Power Rangers, even directing a handful of episodes in four of those incarnations. He was most recently in 43 episodes of Power Rangers Samurai in 2012. By the time he finally left the show, he was the only remaining original cast member from the start of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

While Shrier has stuck mostly to Power Rangers, he’s appeared in a few movies outside the franchise, such as Wicked Game with Johnny Yong Bosch and Jason Narvy. He’s also one of the many former rangers stars set to appear in a movie calle The Order. He also directed 16 episodes of Hello Kitty, wrote a comic book, and appeared in several stage plays with Jason Narvy. Paul also attends various conventions, including multiple Power Morphicons.

12. Richard Steven Horvitz - Alpha 5

Richard Steven Horvitz as Alpha 5

Character: Alpha 5

Episodes: 156

Richard Steven Horvits provided the voice of Alpha 5 for the entirety of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, credited as Steve Wood. He would continue voicing the character for Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo and their associated movies. He also provided the voice of several other characters in later seasons, including Alpha 7, whom many fans theorize is really just Alpha 5 in a new body do to similar voice and behavior.

His body of credits after Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is only rivaled by Johnny Yong Bosch (both have too many to count), including roles like the voice of Daggett Doofus Beaver in The Angry Beavers, Zim in Invader Zim, and Grey Matter in Ben 10. He’s also worked on a number of video games, such as League of Legends, Metal Gear Solid 4, several Psychonauts installments, several Skylanders installments, and World of Warcraft.

When he’s not busy recording voice work, Richard has appeared at several fan conventions, including Power Morphicon 2014.

11. David J. Fielding

Character: Zordon

Episodes: 151

David J. Fielding provided the big face in a tube for Zordon, although the vast majority of his work on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was merely voiceover, as Zordon’s scenes were almost all looped copies of that initial recording. The character would continue on into later versions of the Rangers franchise, continuing to use a looped recording of Fielding’s face (without paying him any residuals), but he didn’t provide the voice moving forward. Even so, the fandom considers him the definitive Zordon.

Fielding’s only acting post-Rangers work is mostly in Kickstarter projects and Power Rangers fan films, but he wrote the script for The Order (a movie you're going to hear about a lot in this list). In addition to The Order, he’s also written a number of books in various genres from sci-fi to fantasy to steampunk. In recent years he’s begun frequenting conventions more and can regularly be found by fans looking for Zordon’s signature.

10. Catherine Sutherland - Kat Hillard

Character: Kat Hillard (the second Pink Ranger)

Episodes: 20

Catherine Sutherland came to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in the middle of its third season to become the second Pink Ranger. She only had a couple of small TV credits to her name before the show, but as the Pink Ranger, her tenure would span three iterations of the Power Rangers franchise, from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo, including the movies that would connect each respective franchise.

Despite stepping down as a Ranger, she would continue to participate in various iterations of the Power Rangers by lending her voiceover talents for background characters. She’s maintained an active role in the fandom by attending conventions such as Power Morphicon, and will be joining many of her former Power Rangers co-stars in an unofficial Ranger reunion film, The Order in 2017.

9. Karan Ashley Jackson - Aisha Campbell

Character: Aisha Campbell (the second Yellow Ranger)

Episodes: 67

Karan Ashley Jackson’s first acting gig was for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers when she was cast as Aisha Campbell. Campbell originally appeared as a contestant in Angel Grove’s Ninja Tournament, but would soon inherit the power of the sabertooth tiger as the second Yellow Ranger. Jackson continued in the role through the Power Rangers Zeo: Zeo Quest movie, but would not continue as a Ranger into the new show, and hasn’t made a return in any later seasons.

In her career after Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Karan participated in a variety of TV shows and movies, also serving as an editor and producer in Unto Thee and Devon's Ghost: Legend of the Bloody Boy. She also served as a co-host and moderator for 'Uncensored Radio', and most recently has been heavily involved in the convention circuit, regularly attending Power Rangers fan events. Like many other former Rangers, Jackson will appear in The Order.

8. Johnny Yong Bosch - Adam Park

Character: Adam Park (the second Black Ranger)

Episodes: 67

Johnny Yong Bosh was already an accomplished martial artist and voice actor in his early teens, winning some martial arts competitions and lending his voice to several different anime productions including Akira and 56 episodes of Sailor Moon, plus a Sailor Moon movie. Along with Karan Ashley Jackson, Johnny was one of the replacement Rangers, taking on the mantle of the Black Ranger.

Johnny Continued on to become the Green Ranger for Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo. He also provided the English dub for dozens of characters in popular anime series, including Vash the Stampede in Trigun, Michael in Gun x Sword, Lelouch Lamperouge in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, and Ichigo Kurosaki in Bleach, just to name a few (he’s in a lot). He’s also credited for involvement in several video games, including Star Wars: The Old Republic, Mortal Combat X, and Devil May Cry 4 (for which he also provided motion capture work). Bosch is also joining many of his former castmates in The Order.

While his voice work doesn’t showcase his martial arts talents, Bosch has been in a few live action productions, appearing in the ultra low budget (but shockingly well choreographed) Wicked Game and featuring alongside Ray Park (Darth Maul, Snake Eyes, Toad) in Hellbinders.

7. Steve Cardenas - Rocky DeSantos

Character: Rocky DeSantos (the second Red Ranger)

Episodes: 67

Steve Cardenas had no acting background when he first joined the cast of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as the third member of the original replacement trio (including Johnny Yong Bosch and Karan Ashley Jackson), but he had been practicing Tae kwon do for 8 years and earned his black belt. Steve became the second Red Ranger and would stay on for Power Rangers Zeo as the Blue Ranger before transitioning off the show at the start of Power Rangers Turbo.

Steve’s acting career was over after Power Rangers. He opened several martial arts studios and Brazilian jiu-jitsu studios. In the past decade, he’s begun to reconnect with the fandom, attending conferences like Power Morphicon, and is even returned to acting, taking a role in a Kickstarter project, Enuattii, produced by Rashaad Santiago, the winner of the 6th season of Syfy’s Face Off, and he’s also another of the actors teaming up for The Order.

6. Thuy Trang - Trini Kwan

Character: Trini Kwan (the original Yellow Ranger)

Episodes: 81

Thuy Trang didn’t have much acting experience prior to landing her first big role in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as Trini Kwan, the first Yellow Ranger, but her involvement in a few commercials was enough to get her the portfolio she needed to land the role. Trang was one of the first cast members to depart the show in the middle of the second season after a contract dispute, but she was the only original ranger to never make an appearance in any other Rangers properties.

After MMPR, Trang participated in some of the side projects of her former Rangers co-stars, like a hip-hop dance video with Walter Jones and a home martial arts video with Austin St. John. She landed some small roles in Spy Hard and The Crow, City of Angels, but her acting career never took off. Thuy was tragically involved in a fatal car accident in 2001 at the age of 27 and didn't survive.

5. Walter Emanuel Jones - Zack Taylor

Character: Zack Taylor (the original Black Ranger)

Episodes: 82

Walter Jones had a variety of credits to his name by the time he landed the role of Zack Taylor, the first Black Ranger, on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, including minor parts in White Men Can’t Jump and Malcom X and TV shows like Beverly Hills 90210 and Step by Step. His background in dance and martial arts helped him bring a great physicality to his role as Zack.

Zack was one of the original Rangers, like Thuy Trang, to depart the show in the second season over a contract dispute. While he would return to the franchise for a single episode in each of Power Rangers Lost Galaxy and Wild Force, both times were to voice a villain. He never made another appearance as a Ranger.

Outside of Power Rangers, Walter landed several recurring TV roles, including Malibu Shores and Space Cases, as well as a number of smaller appearances on well-known shows like The Shield, NYPD Blue, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He’s also done a fair amount of voice work, typically for background characters, in movies like Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Chronicle, and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2. Oh yeah, and he’s obviously in The Order.

4. David Yost - Billy Cranston

Character: Billy Cranston (the original Blue Ranger)

Episodes: 154

Before David Yost became a Power Ranger, he was a multiple time state champion in gymnastics, a skill that would serve him well once he was cast as the Blue Ranger, Billy. David was the only member of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers cast to make it all the way through the first series and into Power Rangers Zeo without transferring his power coin to a new Ranger or changing to another color. In Power Rangers Zeo, his role was downgraded to serve as a technical advisor to the Rangers until he eventually left the show before the season completed. He hasn’t been involved in a Power Rangers property since, likely due to his assertion that he left the show because he was harassed for his sexuality and “called f**got one too many times”.

David’s acting career was mostly over after MMPR, but he did work as a producer for a few movies and TV shows. He participated in stage productions to benefit the AIDS Project Los Angeles and been a part of the NOH8 campaign. He’s a regular fixture of various conventions, and yes, he will be in The Order.

3. Austin St. John - Jason Lee Scott

Character: Jason Lee Scott (the original Red Ranger)

Episodes: 82

While Austin St. John had no acting experience when he was hired for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, he had been practicing martial arts for nearly a decade and a half, and his skills in that arena more than qualified him to play the Red Ranger, the leader of the original team. Austin was the third member of the original group of rangers that departed due to contract issues. Even though he was replaced as the Red Ranger, he came back as the Gold Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo, but he’ll always be the definitive Red Ranger to most fans, no matter how many have come since, a status he affirmed when he returned for the ‘Forever Red’ episode of Power Rangers Wild Force to unite (most) previous Red Rangers.

After leaving MMPR, Austin didn’t actively pursue an acting career. Instead, he worked for 12 years as a paramedic before serving as a civilian medic attached to tactical operations in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He didn’t even realize people were still fans of his time as the Red Ranger, but after a friend showed him the active fan base still loved him, he began regularly attending conventions and has been in a few small movies, including, you guessed it, The Order.

2. Amy Jo Johnson - Kimberly Ann Hart

Character: Kimberly Ann Hart

Episodes: 138

Before becoming a Power Ranger, Amy Jo Johnson attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, combined with years of gymnastics training and competition, Amy’s role as the Pink Ranger was one of the most well-rounded of the show. As the first crush of every boy in the 90’s, she stayed on the show longer than all of the original cast outside of David Yost. She didn’t continue into Power Rangers Zeo, but she was in Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, marking her last involvement with the franchise.

Amy is unquestionably the former Ranger with the most success, making regular TV appearances, directing some (really good) short films. She’s also attached as the writer/director for 2017's The Space Between, which was funded by an Indiegogo campaign. On top of that, Amy has a fairly successful music career. She is not expected to appear in The Order, but there are rumors that she may have a cameo in the new Power Rangers movie.'

1. Jason David Frank - Tommy Oliver

Character: Tommy Oliver (the original Green Ranger and the original White Ranger)

Episodes: 118

Originally appearing as the evil Green Ranger, Jason David Frank was supposed to leave the show for VR Troopers and be replaced by a new actor as the White Ranger, but the popularity of his character resulted in him being written into the show, becoming the White Ranger himself.

Frank embraced the franchise, letting it define his entire career. As Tommy Oliver, he would be the Red Ranger in Zeo and Turbo, the Black Dino Thunder Ranger, and also appear in Wild Force as the Red Zeo Ranger for ‘Forever Red’ also reviving the Green Ranger in Megaforce, making him the longest running Ranger in the franchise. Despite all that, he’s still known as the Green Ranger, regularly wearing green and sporting streaks of green in his hair at conventions.

A master of many different styles of Martial Arts, Frank blended several elements together to crate his own form of American Karate, ‘Toso Kune Do’ and was inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame. He’s fought in several Mixed Martial Arts matches with a 4-0 record as an amateur and a 1-0 in professional matches. He even had a beef with CM Punk and offered to fight him for free.

Frank professes to be a Christian and has an MMA company called “Jesus Didn’t Tap” matching a tattoo on his left forearm.

---

Whose career is the most interesting to  you? Do you have a favorite Ranger? Are you going to see The order? Let us hear about it in the comments!