Behind the Helmets | Mighty Morphin | Rangers

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Walter Emanuel Jones
born November 30, 1970 in Detroit, Michigan
Heritage: African-American

Characters Portrayed

Zack Taylor/Black Morphin Ranger

MMPR 1-2
Nightmare monster (voice)

Lost Galaxy
General Gerrok (voice)

Wild Force

Chronology
A fan favorite in the Ranger universe, Walter continues to embrace his talents in martial arts and dancing.

1988

Walter graduated from Chula Vista High School in California. He had been raised in the west side of Detroit, Michigan.

1992-1994

Walter became a national icon upon auditioning and landing the role of the original Black Ranger in 1992, with the premiere airing in 1993. The role was tailor-made for Walter, who introduced "hip hop kido" as a form of martial arts to the show. Collecting his share of fame during the first and second seasons of "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," Walter would move on to other endeavors in 1994 along with Austin St. John and Thuy Trang.

1995

In the "Family Matters" episode entitled "Teacher's Pet," Walter played a class bully named Kissel.

1996

In the short-lived Nickelodean series "Space Cases," Walter starred as Harlan Brand. Just like Zack from Power Rangers, Harlan was a skilled martial artist and coordinated stunts.

1998

Walter appeared in the Disney original movie "Brink" playing Boomer. Incidently, Disney would later purchase the Power Rangers franchise from Haim Saban in 2001.

1999

As a nice surprise to the Ranger fans, Walter co-hosted "Power Rangers: The Lost Episode" in the middle of the "Lost Galaxy" season of Rangers. Later in that same season, Walter would go on to voice one of the monsters named Nightmare in the "Dream Battle" episode. This would mark the first of many former "Rangers" who later provided voices for villains, along side future actors Sean Cw Johnson, Jason Faunt, Valerie Vernon, Archie Kao, Catherine Sutherland and Jorgito Vargas Jr. Other former Power Ranger actors who played non-Ranger roles include Ron Rogge', Monica Louwerens and Kelson Henderson.

This year also marked Walter's movie debut in the Backyard Wrestling production of "Backyard Dogs" playing Lee Takura.

"The Dogwalker" was also a film with Walter playing the Blonde Guy (not to be confused with the 2002 movie of the same title). In the same year, Walter guest starred on "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer" as Edward in the season four episode "Fear, Itself."

2001

To celebrate ten years of the Ranger franchise, Walter returned to the show. But rather than doning the familar spandex, Walter voiced a General from the leftover forces of the Machine Empire named Gerrok. Ironically, the suit used for General Gerrok was recycled from the Green Hunter Beetleborg from the show Big Bad Beetleborgs (it was common practice for props and suits to be reused amongst the Saban-related shows such as Rangers, Beetleborgs, Masked Rider, Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog or VR Troopers.)

In that same year, Walter would appear on the BBC special "I Love the 90's" for the "1993" show. In it, he is reunited with Amy Jo Johnson. The show originally aired in the UK, and made its US debut in 2004.

Lastly this year, Walter was saddened upon attending the funeral of Thuy Trang (killed in a car crash in California). David Yost also attended.

2002

Playing a drug dealer named Rondell Robinson, Walter appeared in the television series "The Shield."

2003

Walter dabbed into the video game world in the first-person-shooter game "Freedom Fighters" in which he voiced a character known as the Kid. Ironically, there was also a main characters named Mr. Jones in the same game.

2004

He placed first in the Mayan International Salsa Dancing competition.

2007

Walter came as an unexpected surprise at Power Morphicon- the first ever Power Rangers convention to celebrate fifteen years of the franchise. This once again reunited Walter with long-time friend Austin St. John (Walter was also friends with former Ranger voice actor Wally Wingert (who portrayed Psycho Blue), who did not make an appearence). Also, Johnny Yong Bosch, who replaced Walter as the Black Ranger back in 1994, attended the convention.

Walter was last seen on the television series "Age of Love" as a salsa dance instructor, which his official website has tons of information. Looks like he hasn't backed down since winning the competition back in 2004.

Official Site | Walter's Myspace

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