Jason Faunt on Power Rangers Legacy, Hollywood Dreams, and His New Film 'An Old Friend'

Journey to Hollywood and Baseball Past

• ⚾ Jason Faunt clarifies that he was released from professional baseball, not that he gave it up for acting.
• 🎬 His passion for acting ignited in high school after watching the movie Risky Business, inspiring him to move to California.
• Fearlessly, he moved to Los Angeles with only $1,500 and an old pickup truck, finding a free place to live for three months.

Hollywood Beginnings and Power Rangers Fame

• ✨ A memorable early Hollywood experience was meeting celebrities like Jason Alexander and Kramer while working at Gladstones in Malibu.
• 💥 Booking the role of the Red Ranger was an exhilarating moment, marked by him screaming in his car on Laurel Canyon.
• 🧸 He expresses disbelief at becoming an action figure, a childhood dream he never anticipated.
• 🌟 A surprising behind-the-scenes moment involved Robert De Niro's twins visiting the set, as they were big fans of the show.

Fan Interactions and Meaningful Stories

• 🌍 Faunt cherishes traveling the world for appearances, hearing impactful stories from fans.
• 💔 He shares a deeply moving story about a Dallas police officer whose brother died on 9/11, finding solace in the Power Rangers' message against discrimination.
• 🏆 While tipping his hat to the original Red Ranger, Austin St. John, Faunt humorously claims he did the best job.
• 💰 He eventually bought his own Red Ranger suit from an auction for thousands of dollars after not being allowed to keep it initially.

Reflections on Career and Life

• 🎬 Faunt regrets not getting the role in Wedding Crashers, which went to Bradley Cooper.
• 🧑‍🏫 If acting vanished, he would pursue his love for football as a high school football coach.
• 💔 His new short film, 'An Old Friend,' deals with themes of loss and the longing for 'one last chance' with a loved one, a concept that resonated deeply with him following his father's passing.
• 💡 The film's message encourages living in the moment and cherishing time with loved ones.
• 🤝 He advises his younger self to be fearless and embrace mistakes.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Balancing fatherhood with acting is challenging, especially with five children of varying ages, managed with efficiency and a nanny.
• 🌟 He defines success not by competing with stars like Brad Pitt, but by enjoying one's own life and successes.
• 🚀 His biggest fear is one of his children passing away before him, and a dream he's still chasing is to be involved in a sports movie.

Advice and Personal Insights

• 👂 His top parenting rule is simple: listen.
• 🎶 A guilty pleasure is his playlist of classic 70s music.
• ⏳ He wishes he were better at time management and less reliant on his phone.
• 💪 He is secretly amazing at maintaining a strict workout routine and diet.
• 🗣️ The best advice he received was from Jason Alexander: 'Just keep working' and don't snub small jobs.
• 🚫 He advises against the worst advice he received: 'Don't be an extra', as it led to his SAG card and first acting roles.
• 🍷 A vice he's trying to break is drinking too much wine.
• 🌟 His legacy aspiration is to be remembered as more than a Power Ranger, but as someone who made people's lives better.
• 🚀 He encourages viewers to take big swings and embrace failure as a path to strength.