Walter Emanuel Jones Explained

Walter E. Jones
Birth Date:30 November 1970
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Years Active:1990–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]

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, , Off Centre and The Shield.

He played in films including Backyard Dogs (2000), House of the Dead 2 (2005), (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 (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, , 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, 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 .

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 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".

Filmography

Films
YearTitleRoleNotes
1992White Men Can't JumpGuy On Watts SidelineUncredited
Malcolm XBarber's Customer
1998TalismanJack Fine
The GardenerPunk
BrinkBoomer
20006Pat 2Unknown
Backyard DogsLee Takura
2001SuckersClay
2002American GunJ.B.
Love and a BulletCisko
MoveChester / Chakou / Cyrus
2005House of the Dead 2Locker ZombieUncredited
2008Open Season 2Unknown Voice
2009Steps Toward The SunCowboy #2
2012Speed DemonsTerrance
2013Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 Additional Voices
2016Angry Fan
Star Trek: Captain PikeCaptain Sean Davis
2017The OrderCole
2018Miller's Justice League Mortal[21] Documentary
2023House PartyHimselfCameo
Zack Taylor / Black Power Ranger30th Anniversary Special
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1990Beverly Hills, 90210Guy In Hall
1993–1994Mighty Morphin Power RangersStarring role (79 Episodes)
1994Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Alpha's Magical ChristmasVideo short (archival footage)
1995Step by StepJoe
The Parent 'HoodJared King
Family MattersKissel
1996Malibu ShoresMichael "Mouse" Hammon10 episodes
1996–1997Space CasesHarlan BandMain role, 27 episodes, 2 seasons
1997The Burning ZoneMarcus Dawson
Sabrina, the Teenage WitchDolrimple
1998Brink!"Boomer"Television film (Disney Channel)
1999Early Edition"Crazy H"
Mutinerie"Shorty"Television film
In the HouseWalter
Buffy the Vampire SlayerEdward
Power Rangers Lost GalaxyNightmare Monster
Power Rangers: The Lost EpisodeHimself / Zack TaylorCo-host / Co-star (original pilot)
2000NYPD BlueRaymond Young
2001MoeshaJay2 episodes
Spyder GamesDean4 episodes
2002Off Centre"Cheddar"
Street Racer
Power Rangers Wild ForceGerrokVoice
Ricky RogersVoice, television film
2003The ShieldRondell Robinson4 episodes
2011Prime SuspectRandall Hughes
2012Pair of Kings"Tough Poet"
2013Mighty MedDoctor

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Interview With Original Black Power Ranger, Walter Emanuel Jones - ABC News . Abcnews.go.com . 2013-07-11 . 2013-08-12.
  2. News: Movie Review; Hard-Boiled 'Dogwalker' Turns Into a Charmer. Dargis. Manohla. September 13, 2002. Los Angeles Times. 20 August 2011.
  3. Web site: Edward. Pevos. The original Black 'Power Ranger' reminisces on his Michigan roots, born and raised. MLive. August 15, 2021. May 21, 2022.
  4. Web site: Sherryn . Daniel . My exclusive interview with Walter Emanuel Jones, the original Black Power Ranger Part 1 . Sharing the Details . 11 October 2012 . 5 April 2020 .
  5. Web site: Whatever Happened to the Original Power Rangers?. 11 June 2015 . 2016-09-22.
  6. Web site: Gomez . Patrick . Original 'Power Rangers' stars reunite for 30th anniversary Netflix special . 17 January 2023 . 13 March 2023 . EW.com . en.
  7. Web site: Brink! (1998). IMDb.com. 2013-08-12.
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO0JBFlof90 Space Cases Intro
  9. Web site: The Order. 1 January 2000. IMDb.
  10. Web site: Power Rangers Actors Reunion Film "The Order" Revealed. 18 May 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161022022548/http://henshinjustice.com/2016/05/18/power-rangers-actors-reunion-film-the-order-revealed/. 22 October 2016.
  11. Web site: Primer tráiler de 'The Order', el sorprendente reencuentro del reparto de la serie 'Power Rangers'. 18 May 2016 .
  12. Web site: [Movie] The Order].
  13. Web site: 'The Order,' Cast Entirely With Former Power Rangers, Is Basically 'Power Rangers: Civil War'. Corey. Jefferson. 19 May 2016.
  14. Web site: A Dream Team Of Former Power Rangers Assemble For A Dark New Action Movie 'The Order'. June 2016 .
  15. Web site: The Power Rangers are Back in "The Order" - Ace of Geeks. 18 May 2016.
  16. Web site: The Order - Atores de Power Rangers em novo filme. 30 May 2016.
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10699442/?ref_=nm_flmg_eps_tt_1 Boomerang tv series on imdb.com
  18. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10794866/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_3_act Memoirs of a fighter on imdb.com
  19. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8005118/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm House Party on imdb.com
  20. Web site: 'House Party'; The New Film Arrives On Digital January 31 & On Blu-ray & DVD February 14, 2023 From Warner Bros. Lovell. Kevin. January 30, 2023. Screen-Connections. January 30, 2023.
  21. Web site: Walter Jones. .