Richard Michael Genelle (October 12, 1961 – December 30, 2008) was an entrepreneur and actor best known for playing Ernie on the children's television series ''
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
''Mighty Power Rangers'' (''MMPR'') is a superhero television series that premiered on August 28, 1993, on the Fox Kids programming block. It is the first entry of the ''Power Rangers'' franchise, and became a 1990s pop culture phenomenon along ...
''.
[Screen World 1998 John Willis, Barry Monush - 1999 Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie ... Richard Genelle (Ernie)."]
From 1993 until 1997, Genelle portrayed Ernie, the good-natured owner of the Angel Grove Youth Center, the most popular hang out spot for the teenagers of Angel Grove. He often hosted birthday parties, school activities, martial arts tournaments and community charity events. He also gave out free drinks and food as well as helping out his customers if they needed something. After four seasons, Ernie abruptly left the Youth Center to do emergency volunteer work in
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
, passing ownership of the Youth Center to Jerome Stone.
In real life, Genelle left the series to take steps to overcome his smoking problems and obesity, successfully losing over forty pounds. He also started Retail Logistics Solutions, Inc. in
Cerritos, California
Cerritos (Spanish for "Little hills") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956. As of 20 ...
, providing transportation services.
Genelle died following a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
on December 30, 2008 at age forty-seven. His funeral service was held at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park in
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in and the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States, in the Inland Empire metropolitan area. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. It is the most populous city in the Inland Empire an ...
. His interment was in that cemetery.
Filmography
References
External links
*
1961 births
2008 deaths
American male television actors
20th-century American male actors
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