Before Jason got his hockey mask in Friday the 13th Part III, he terrified audiences and counselors alike by wearing a sack over his head in Friday the 13th Part II. Steve Dash was one of the actors who played Jason in that first sequel, and his approach to playing the iconic character in some of the movie's most crucial scenes helped cement Part II Jason as one of the most memorable versions of the Crystal Lake killer, and it is with especially great sadness that we share the news of Dash's passing at the age of 74.
Keeping his fans updated on his Facebook page, Dash had recently announced that he was having his left leg amputated to help his fight against diabetes and a heart condition. Today, multiple horror outlets have shared the news of the actor and stunt man's recent passing.
A frequent special guest on the horror convention circuit, Dash (also known as Steve Daskawisz) will be dearly missed by horror fans. This past August, most of the Daily Dead team was on hand to see five Jason Voorhees actors congregate at Flashback Weekend in Chicago, and watching Dash interact with fellow Friday the 13th alumni on stage and with fans on the main floor was a true treat.
As one of two actors who played Jason in Friday the 13th Part 2 (the other being Warrington Gillette), Dash was absolutely essential to bringing the first grown-up version of Jason to life on screen. The creepy look and intimidating physicality of an adult Jason in the second movie helped ensure the character as the franchise's main antagonist, one who would continue to stalk the shores of Crystal Lake for many movies to come.
In addition to Friday the 13th Part 2, Dash performed stunts for Ghostbusters and F/X, and he played Dr. Barkin in 1982's Alone in the Dark. Dash also recently returned to his Friday the 13th roots by playing Sheriff Jason Realotti in the upcoming fan film Friday the 13th: Vengeance, an unofficial sequel to Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives.
As versatile as he was memorable, Dash balanced gritty stunt work with an unforgettable personality as a performer, bringing a real sense of uniqueness to any project that was lucky enough to have him. Our thoughts are with Dash's family and friends during this difficult time.
Photo Credit: Above photo is from Facebook.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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