Whitney Rydbeck, Crash Test Dummy Ad Campaign Star and ‘Friday the 13th’ Actor, Dies at 79

Obits

He was also seen in episodes of “The Brady Bunch,” “Lassie,” “M*A*S*H*” and “Highway to Heaven”

Actor Whitney Rydbeck points out the mask he wore as one of the original characters on the 25th anniversary of the launching of the Vince and Larry crash test dummy public service campaign, and donated artifacts are welcomed at a ceremony at the Smithsonian American History museum on July, 14, 2010 in Washington, DC
Actor Whitney Rydbeck points out the mask he wore as one of the original characters on the 25th anniversary of the launching of the Vince and Larry crash test dummy public service campaign, and donated artifacts are welcomed at a ceremony at the Smithsonian American History museum on July, 14, 2010 in Washington, DC (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Stephanie kaloi

Whitney Rydbeck, the actor and mime who played one of the original Crash Test Dummies in the “You Could Learn a Lot From a Dummy” seat-belt ads from the 1980s and ’90s, died Monday from complications related to prostate cancer. He was 79 years old.

Rydbeck also played a paintball victim in “Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI.” News of the actor’s death was shared by Tommy McLoughlin, who directed “Jason Lives.”

McLoughlin wrote on Instagram, “We lost not only a truly funny comedian and actor…but one of the most good hearted human beings I’ve ever known.

Stephanie kaloi

Stephanie Kaloi

Stephanie is a reporter at TheWrap. She has been covering news, politics, entertainment, media, and sports (mostly women’s basketball) for over 15 years. Her experience includes The Guardian, People, the BBC, SB Nation and more.

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