A former star of children’s TV franchise Power Rangers has had to have emergency surgery following a brain injury, as his agent says there is a ‘long road ahead’ for the actor’s recovery
One of the stars of TV hit Power Rangers has been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery following a brain injury. Phillip Andrew, 48, starred in Power Rangers Wild Force in 2002.
Andrew, who played Merrick Baliton, aka Lunar Wolf Ranger, was said to be “showing encouraging signs of improvement” following his surgery, but his agent still warned that there was a “long road ahead”.
Christian Ingram, Andrew’s agent, had previously said via the star’s Instagram that he had experienced a “medical emergency” and would be cancelling his upcoming appearances.
In a new update, they added: “Phillip suffered a serious brain injury that required emergency surgery. We are grateful to share that Phillip is now awake and showing encouraging signs of improvement.
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“While this is a positive step forward, Phillip still has a long road ahead of him. We ask that fans, friends and colleagues continue to keep him and his loved ones in their thoughts and prayers as he navigates this difficult time.”
Ingram added that he was also asking for people to respect the family’s privacy during the difficult time, but that they appreciated the “overwhelming love, support and prayers during this incredibly challenging time”.
Several other Power Rangers stars hopped into the comments to share their support and love for Andrew. Sasha Craig, who played Kelsey Winslow on Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, said she hoped Andrew “heals up fast”.
Jessica Rey, who played Alyssa Enrile alongside Andrew in Wild Force, said: “Praise the Lord. Praying daily for you, brother.” Finally, Karan Ashley from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers commented three yellow hearts.
Andrew starred in 40 episodes of Wild Force across it’s only season, as is traditional for the franchise, which typically lasts no more than two seasons before moving onto new storylines and characters. In his series, Andrews’ character Merrick was an ancient warrior from the lost world of Animaria who was transformed into an Org and imprisoned.
Merrick is found by the teenagers, including Rey’s Alyssa, who are recruited by fellow Animarian, Princess Shayla (Ann Marie Crouch), to be the next group of Power Rangers. After they release him, he joins them in their battle against the Orgs.
Andrew appears to have retired from acting not long after playing Merrick. His most recent credit is from 2006, where he appeared in the sitcom What I Like About You, as a mugger. But he has remained connected with fans by making appearances at various conventions across the US.
Power Rangers first began as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in 1993, and has spawned multiple iterations across TV and film. Many of the original Power Rangers actors have left acting, including David Yost, who played the Blue Power Ranger. Yost is now a producer who has helped bring Temptation Island and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills to the screen.
Red Ranger actor Austin St. John moved away from acting to teach martial arts and get a degree in sports science from Concordia University. While original Pink Ranger Amy Jo Johnson continued to act in films such as Susie Q and shows like ER and Felicity, she also pursued a music career and released three albums.
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