Richard Michael Genelle (October 12, 1961 – December 30, 2008) was an entrepreneur and actor best known for playing Ernie on the children's series Power Rangers

Power Rangers

Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...

.

From 1993 until 1997, Genelle portrayed Ernie, the good-natured owner of the Angel Grove Youth Center, the most popular hang out spot for the teens of Angel Grove. He often hosted special events, giving out free drinks and food, and helping out his customers if they needed it. After four seasons, Ernie abruptly left the Youth Center to do emergency volunteer work in South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

, passing ownership of the Youth Center to Jerome Stone.

In real life, Genelle left the series to take steps to overcome his smoking problems and obesity, successfully losing over forty pounds. He also started Retail Logistics Solutions, Inc. in Cerritos, California

Cerritos, California

Cerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...

, providing transportation services.

Genelle died following a heart attack

Myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...

 on December 30, 2008. He was 47 years old.

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