Actor and stuntman Ted White, best known to horror fans for playing Jason Voorhees in the fan favorite horror sequel Friday the 13th Part 4: The Final Chapter, has passed away. Horror documentarian Sean Clark made the announcement on social media, noting that White died peacefully in his sleep at his home. He was 96 years old."I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him and working with him for close to 20 years," Clark said in his social media post. "He was my adopted grandpa and hands down the best storyteller you could have ever met. If you haven’t read it yet check out his book Cast a Giant Shadow where many of those stories are told. I was honored to be mentioned in the book when he wrote about his time in the convention world. I am going to miss you immensely and those steak dinners we always had. Also teasing you about your red, white & blue banner that made you look like you were running for President."He adds, "My heart goes out to his wife Jeri and his sons. It was an absolute honor my friend. Rest easy. Love you Ted."
Ted White Will Forever Be a Beloved Horror Icon
There are others in the horror community paying tribute to Ted White. Kane Hodder, a fellow stuntman and Jason Voorhees actor, posted to Twitter, "Very sad to lose my stunt brother, Ted White. A true film legend. You will be missed."
Legendary FX guru Tom Savini also worked on Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter with White. He posted an image from that movie's set and wrote about how he still sees White as the hero whom he aspires to be.
"I’m 75 and I still want to be Ted White when I grow up," Savini said. "Tough as nails with a heart of gold. Pure class. He will be missed. Us on set of Friday the 13th part 4."
"I had the pleasure of being seated next to Ted White at Monster Mania Con and he was just a terrific presence, a great guy, and a fantastic Jason. RIP," writes Friday the 13th Part 3 actor Larry Zerner.
Melanie Kinnaman, who plays final girl Pam Roberts in Friday the 13th Part 5: A New Beginning, also posted a kind message to Facebook. She spoke about her experiences with White meeting fans in the convention scene, where White had been a favorite for Friday the 13th fanatics for photo-ops and autographs.
"I did my very first convention with Ted White....MonsterMania in Hunt Valley," Kinnaman said. "I was very nervous and he was so kind. He told me the fans would be happy to meet me. We had lunch together and he told me great stories which helped me to relax and really enjoy my first show. He was a gentleman and a friend. Fly with the Angels, Ted. You’ve earned your wing."
While White was a big star in the horror community, his work as a stuntman also includes doubling for such big names in Hollywood as John Wayne, Clark Gable, and Richard Boone. He has also had roles in many classic westerns and appeared in various TV shows like Daniel Boone, The Andy Griffith Show, Magnum, P.I., and The Rockford Files. White has also appeared in other movies like Tron, Starman, Silverado, The Hidden, and Downtown. In more recent years, he participated in making-of documentaries about Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter as well as 2018's To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story.
Our condolences are with the family and friends at this time. Rest in peace, Ted White.