Walter Emanuel Jones

Last updated
Walter E. Jones
Walter Jones by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Walter E. Jones in 2014
Born (1970-11-30) November 30, 1970 (age 53)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • martial artist
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active1990–present

Walter Emanuel Jones (born November 30, 1970), also known as Tre Emanuel, is an American actor, martial artist, singer and dancer, known for playing the role of Zack Taylor, the original Black Ranger on the hit television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers . [1] [2]

Contents

He also appeared in successful television shows including Family Matters , Step by Step , Sabrina, the Teenage Witch , Moesha , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Early Edition , NYPD Blue , CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , Off Centre and The Shield .

He played in films including Backyard Dogs (2000), House of the Dead 2 (2005), Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) and House Party (2023).

He gave his voice talent to animated films including Open Season 2 (2008) and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013).

Life and career

Jones was born and raised in Detroit. [3] He lost the middle finger on his left hand at the age of 4. [4] He began his career with an uncredited role in the successful TV show Beverly Hills, 90210 . In 1992, he took part in the Malcolm X film.

Jones played the character of Zack Taylor, the original "Black Power Ranger" in the Power Rangers series. He was written out of the series midway through the second season, after a contract and pay dispute, and was replaced by Johnny Yong Bosch as the Black Ranger. [5] Jones returned to Power Rangers in the Lost Galaxy season (1999) where he played the voice of Hexuba's Nightmare Monster in the episode "Dream Battle"; he also acted in an episode of Power Rangers: Wild Force (2002) entitled Forever Red in which many previous Red Rangers teamed up. Again, he did not appear as his original character, Zack, but rather provided the voice for one of the antagonists, a general in the Machine Empire named Gerrok. He was also one of the special commentators, along with fellow co-star Amy Jo Johnson, on the "1993" episode of I Love the '90s . He also reunited with Austin St. John (with whom he formed a close friendship during their time together on the show) as co-host for a special airing of the original pilot episode of Power Rangers called "The Lost Episode". In 2023, he reprised the role of Zack Taylor for the first time since leaving the show in 1994 in the Netflix special, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always , which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise. [6]

Jones was the very first actor to do voicework for any character other than a Ranger (mainly for monsters or villains) on a Power Rangers show after having a role as a Ranger himself. Other former Rangers who would do voicework after Jones included Archie Kao, Catherine Sutherland, Jason Faunt, Valerie Vernon, Sean Cw Johnson and Johnny Yong Bosch.

Jones was a lead character in the teen drama Malibu Shores playing "Mouse". Jones also had major roles in the independent film The Dogwalker. He has appeared in other well-known productions, including a small part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the season 4 episode "Fear, Itself" and the Disney Channel Original Movie, Brink! . [7] He also appeared as Harlan Band in the Nickelodeon series Space Cases , [8] his second role as a main character and as a teenager. He guest starred in an episode of Family Matters as Kissel, and portrayed a supporting character in the first season of The Shield named Rondell Robinson, a drug dealer. He had a small role in the film Suckers in which he played a character named Clay. He also appeared in many successful TV shows including Family Matters , Step by Step , Sabrina, the Teenage Witch , Moesha , Early Edition , NYPD Blue , CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Off Centre . Additionally, he played a small role in the film House of the Dead 2 as "locker zombie". Jones also had a cameo appearance in the film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift .

Jones also had a major role in the backyard wrestling film Backyard Dogs , which spent time as the lowest-rated film on IMDb. As of July 2007, it is no longer on the list as it was straight-to-video. Jones voiced characters in the successful animated films Open Season 2 (2008) and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013).

He appeared briefly as a salsa dance instructor on Age of Love . He also appeared in Mighty Med and as a poet in an episode of Disney XD's Pair of Kings . Additionally Jones has also been featured in a PetSmart commercial and a Bank of America commercial as well. In 2002, he appeared in the film Love and a Bullet . In 2016, he appeared in the film Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and the short film Star Trek : Captain Pike.

In January 2019, he starred in The Order alongside Austin St. John, Catherine Sutherland, David Yost, Johnny Yong Bosch, Paul Schrier, Karan Ashley, Steve Cardenas, Erin Cahill, Blake Foster, Nakia Burrise, Hilary Shepard Turner, Dan Southworth, Alyson Sullivan, Deborah Estelle Phillips and Azim Rizk. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

In 2021, he starred in the 7th episode of the second season of the series Boomerang . [17] The same year, he acted in the dramatic film Memoirs of a Fighter alongside Eric Roberts and Tara Reid. [18]

In 2023, he was one of the actors in the House Party . [19] The film was released for VOD on January 31, 2023, and was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 14, 2023. [20] On June 11, 2023, he released his debut single "Dance" under the stage name "Tre Emanuel". [21]

Filmography

Jones in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 2016 Walter E Jones.jpg
Jones in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 2016
Films
YearTitleRoleNotes
1992 White Men Can't Jump Guy On Watts SidelineUncredited
Malcolm X Barber's Customer
1998TalismanJack Fine
The GardenerPunk
BrinkBoomer
20006Pat 2Unknown
Backyard Dogs Lee Takura
2001 Suckers Clay
2002 American Gun J.B.
Love and a Bullet Cisko
MoveChester / Chakou / Cyrus
2005 House of the Dead 2 Locker ZombieUncredited
2008 Open Season 2 UnknownVoice
2009Steps Toward The SunCowboy #2
2012Speed DemonsTerrance
2013 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 Additional Voices
2016 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Angry Fan
Star Trek: Captain PikeCaptain Sean Davis
2017The Order [22] Cole
2018Miller's Justice League Mortal [23] Documentary
2023 House Party HimselfCameo
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always Zack Taylor / Black Power Ranger30th Anniversary Special
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 Beverly Hills, 90210 Guy In Hall
1993–1994 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Zack Taylor / Black Power Ranger Starring role (79 Episodes)
1994Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Alpha's Magical ChristmasVideo short (archival footage)
1995 Step by Step Joe
The Parent 'Hood Jared King
Family Matters Kissel
1996 Malibu Shores Michael "Mouse" Hammon10 episodes
1996–1997 Space Cases Harlan BandMain role, 27 episodes, 2 seasons
1997 The Burning Zone Marcus Dawson
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Dolrimple
1998 Brink! "Boomer"Television film (Disney Channel)
1999 Early Edition "Crazy H"
Mutinerie"Shorty"Television film
In the House Walter
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Edward
Power Rangers Lost Galaxy Nightmare Monster
Power Rangers: The Lost EpisodeHimself / Zack TaylorCo-host / Co-star (original pilot)
2000 NYPD Blue Raymond Young
2001 Moesha Jay2 episodes
Spyder Games Dean4 episodes
2002 Off Centre "Cheddar"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Street Racer
Power Rangers Wild Force GerrokVoice
Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe In Santa Ricky RogersVoice, television film
2003 The Shield Rondell Robinson4 episodes
2011 Prime Suspect Randall Hughes
2012 Pair of Kings "Tough Poet"
2013 Mighty Med Doctor

Related Research Articles

<i>Mighty Morphin Power Rangers</i> American live action childrens television series

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (MMPR) is an American 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 with a large line of toys, action figures, and other merchandise. The show adapted stock footage from the Japanese TV series Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (1992–1993), which was the 16th installment of Toei's Super Sentai franchise. The second and third seasons of the show drew elements and stock footage from Gosei Sentai Dairanger and Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, respectively, though the Zyuranger costumes were still used for the lead cast in these two seasons. Only the mecha and the Kiba Ranger costume from Dairanger were featured in the second season while only the Kakuranger mecha was featured in the third season, though the Kakuranger costumes were later used for the mini-series Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers. The series was produced by MMPR Productions and distributed by Saban Entertainment, while the show's merchandise was produced and distributed by Bandai Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason David Frank</span> American actor (1973–2022)

Jason David Frank was an American actor, model and mixed martial artist best known for his role as Tommy Oliver in the Power Rangers television franchise.

Zachary "Zack" Taylor is a fictional character in the Power Rangers universe, appearing in the television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. He is the first on-screen Black Ranger of Power Rangers. He would be succeeded as the Black Ranger by Adam Park. A reimagined version of Zack, now Chinese-American, would appear in the 2017 reboot film, played by Canadian actor Ludi Lin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Oliver</span> Fictional character from the Power Rangers franchise

Dr. Thomas "Tommy" Oliver is a fictional character and the overarching main protagonist of the American live-action television franchise Power Rangers. He is best known as being the original Green Ranger and the first evil Ranger who fought and nearly defeated the original Power Rangers while under the control of Rita Repulsa. He was eventually freed from Rita's spell and aligned himself with the other Power Rangers. He is a main character in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, as well as four of its successive incarnations Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo, Power Rangers Turbo, and Power Rangers Dino Thunder. He also appeared in the Power Rangers Wild Force episode "Forever Red", the Power Rangers S.P.D. episode "Wormhole", the Power Rangers Super Megaforce episode "Legendary Battle", and in the Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel episode "Dimensions in Danger". He was portrayed by actor Jason David Frank in all of his appearances from the Zordon era until Saban Brands era's seasons of the franchise prior to his death in November 2022, with the exception of the episode "Wormhole", where he appeared only in Ranger form and was voiced by actor Jeffrey Parazzo. He was also infrequently portrayed by actor Michael Gotto in instances where the story required the character during childhood, such as in the series Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Yost</span> American actor (born 1969)

David Harold Yost is an American actor and producer. He is best known for portraying Billy Cranston in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always and Power Rangers Cosmic Fury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thuy Trang</span> Vietnamese actress (1973–2001)

Thuy Trang was a Vietnamese-born actress based in the United States. She was known for her role as Trini Kwan, the original Yellow Ranger on the original cast of the television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Sutherland</span> Australian actress (born 1974)

Catherine Jane Sutherland is an Australian actress. She is known for her portrayal of Kat Hillard, the second Pink Power Ranger and later, the Pink Zeo Ranger and the first Pink Turbo Ranger in the Power Rangers television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trini Kwan</span> Yellow Power Ranger character

Trini Kwan is a fictional character from the Power Rangers franchise, first appearing in the original series as the Yellow Ranger. She was portrayed by Vietnamese-American actress Thuy Trang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Cullen</span> Canadian voice actor (born 1941)

Peter Claver Cullen is a Canadian voice actor. He is notable for voicing Optimus Prime in the original 1980s Transformers animated series, later returning to the role in Transformers media in 2007, starting with the first live-action film. He has also voiced many other characters across a wide variety of popular media, including Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise, Monterey Jack in Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, the first voice of KARR in Knight Rider and the vocalizations of the title character in Predator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin St. John</span> American actor

Jason Lawrence Geiger professionally known as Austin St. John, is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Jason Lee Scott in the Power Rangers franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Cardenas</span> American martial artist (born 1974)

Stephen Antonio Cardenas is an American martial artist and actor. He is best known for playing the character Rocky DeSantos, the second Red Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and eventually the Blue Zeo Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Day of the Dumpster</span> 1st episode of the 1st season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

"Day of the Dumpster" is the first episode of both the American tokusatsu television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the Power Rangers franchise. It premiered on the Fox network on August 28, 1993 as part of its Fox Kids programming block, and was later released on VHS and DVD. A new re-version of the episode later aired on ABC on January 2, 2010, as part of ABC Kids. As with the first season's episodes, most of the scenes featuring the Rangers in morphed form, the Zords and the villains are taken from the Japanese tokusatsu series, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger, the 16th entry of the Power Rangers franchise's Japanese counterpart of origin, Super Sentai.

Blake Anthony Foster is an American actor and martial artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titus Welliver</span> American actor

Titus B. Welliver is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of the Man in Black in Lost, Silas Adams in Deadwood, Jimmy O'Phelan in Sons of Anarchy, and the title role in the television series Bosch and Bosch: Legacy. He is also known for his collaborations with Ben Affleck, starring in his films Gone Baby Gone (2007), The Town (2010), Argo (2012), and Live by Night (2016).

William Allen Young is an American actor and director who has starred in over 100 television, stage, and film projects, including two Academy Award-nominated films, A Soldier's Story and District 9. He is known for his roles as Frank Mitchell on UPN's Moesha, Dr. Rollie Guthrie on the CBS medical drama Code Black, and as Judge Joseph Ratner on CBS's CSI Miami. His other television credits include ABC's The Day After, General Hospital, CBS's Madam Secretary, JAG, Atlanta Child Murders, and The Women of Brewster Place, among other shows. He is also credited with helping to diversify the ranks of writers, actors, directors and producers in Hollywood through the landmark 2000 TV Network Agreement, which he helped broker while serving as a former co-chair of the African-American Steering Committee of the Directors Guild of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Martini</span> American actor, theater, writer, and director

Maximilian Carlo Martini is an American actor, writer, and director. He is known for his roles as Corporal Fred Henderson in Saving Private Ryan, Wiley in Level 9, First Sergeant Sid Wojo in The Great Raid, and as Master Sergeant Mack Gerhardt in the CBS military drama television series The Unit. He also starred in the film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi as Mark Geist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Yong Bosch</span> American actor (born 1976)

Johnny Yong Bosch is an American actor. His first major role was the portrayal of Adam Park, the second on-screen Black Power Ranger and later, the Green Zeo Ranger and first Green Turbo Ranger in the Power Rangers franchise, which led to roles in some martial arts television and feature films. As a voice actor, some of his most notable roles are Vash the Stampede in Trigun, Ichigo Kurosaki in Bleach, Yu Narukami and Tohru Adachi in Persona 4, Nero in Devil May Cry, and Lelouch Vi Britannia in Code Geass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karan Ashley</span> American actress, singer and host

Karan Ashley is an American actress, singer, and talk show host. She is best known as Aisha Campbell, the second Yellow Power Ranger in the Fox Kids series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. In 1992, she was a member of the short-lived girl group K.R.U.S.H, who featured a song to the soundtrack of Mo' Money. She was known as "Ashley Jackson" at this time.

The Dogwalker is a 1999 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Duran and starring Will Stewart.

<i>Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always</i> 2023 American superhero television film

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is a 2023 American superhero television film serving to commemorate the 30th anniversary of both Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993–1995) and the Power Rangers franchise.

References

  1. "Interview With Original Black Power Ranger, Walter Emanuel Jones - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  2. Dargis, Manohla (September 13, 2002). "Movie Review; Hard-Boiled 'Dogwalker' Turns Into a Charmer". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 20 August 2011.[ dead link ]
  3. Pevos, Edward (August 15, 2021). "The original Black 'Power Ranger' reminisces on his Michigan roots, born and raised". MLive. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  4. Daniel, Sherryn (11 October 2012). "My exclusive interview with Walter Emanuel Jones, the original Black Power Ranger Part 1". Sharing the Details. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  5. "Whatever Happened to the Original Power Rangers?". 11 June 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  6. Gomez, Patrick (17 January 2023). "Original 'Power Rangers' stars reunite for 30th anniversary Netflix special". EW.com. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  7. "Brink! (1998)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  8. Space Cases Intro. YouTube. Retrieved on 2012-06-18.
  9. "The Order". 1 January 2000 via IMDb.
  10. "Power Rangers Actors Reunion Film "The Order" Revealed". 18 May 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016.
  11. "Primer tráiler de 'The Order', el sorprendente reencuentro del reparto de la serie 'Power Rangers'". 18 May 2016.
  12. "[Movie] The Order".
  13. Jefferson, Corey (19 May 2016). "'The Order,' Cast Entirely With Former Power Rangers, Is Basically 'Power Rangers: Civil War'".
  14. "A Dream Team Of Former Power Rangers Assemble For A Dark New Action Movie 'The Order'". June 2016.
  15. "The Power Rangers are Back in "The Order" - Ace of Geeks". 18 May 2016.
  16. "The Order - Atores de Power Rangers em novo filme". 30 May 2016.
  17. Boomerang tv series on imdb.com.
  18. Memoirs of a fighter on imdb.com.
  19. House Party on imdb.com.
  20. Lovell, Kevin (January 30, 2023). "'House Party'; The New Film Arrives On Digital January 31 & On Blu-ray & DVD February 14, 2023 From Warner Bros". Screen-Connections. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  21. "Dance" – a TRE EMANUEL Music Project (lyric video) , retrieved 2023-06-20
  22. The Order at IMDb
  23. "Walter Jones". IMDb .