Jonathan Tiersten, who was best known for his role in the 1983 movie “Sleepaway Camp,” has passed away at the age of 60.
The actor’s brother, William Tiersten, told TMZ that Jonathan died at his home in New Jersey last week. He added that the medical examiner is currently investigating the exact cause of death.
Jonathan played Ricky Thomas in “Sleepaway Camp,” going on to reprise his role in “Return to Sleepaway Camp” and “Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor.” He continued to act in horror movies, starring in “The Perfect House,” “Terror Tales,” “Toilet Zombie Baby Strikes Back,” and “Time’s Up.”
Tributes Pour In For Jonathan Tiersten
“Damn.. 60 is too young. That Sleepaway Camp role was straight up unforgettable.. he nailed that raw awkward intensity that made the whole movie stick with us for decades. Appreciate the cult classic work he put in. Condolences to his family and everyone who knew him. RIP Jonathan Tiersten,” one person wrote.
“Rest in peace, Jonathan Tiersten. You delivered one of the most iconic lines in cinema history! A legendary comeback that still gets quoted to this day. Your role and performance in Sleepaway Camp remain a cult classic. You will never be forgotten,” another person commented.
“Sad news about Jonathan Tiersten passing at 60. Sleepaway Camp was my go-to camp horror flick back in the day, that insane twist ending still gives me chills. He nailed the vibe that made it a cult fave. RIP to a true scream king,” someone posted.
“Rest in peace Jonathan Tiersten. Your unforgettable turn as Ricky in Sleepaway Camp made that 1983 horror classic an instant cult favorite and terrified a generation. A true scream king gone too soon. Condolences to his family,” a fan said.
“Legitimately gutted by this news. “Sleepaway Camp” is one of my personal fave movies that I’ve seen so many times I’ve got it memorized. RIP Jonathan Tiersten. 60, just a kid,” another fan expressed.
“Despite Sleepaway Camp being one of my favorite horror films I never met Tiersten. I was a fool and thought “Oh I’ll get him at the next con. Or the next. Or next.” I just went along thinking, probably like a lot of people, that he’d be around for a good long while. Folks, make the time! Make the time to tell awesome actors and horror people how amazing their work is! I hope Jonathan knew how much he was loved and appreciated by people for his work, especially as Ricky! He was a great actor, and gone far too soon,” one fan stated.
“I’ve known Jonathan Tiersten for 20 years from the convention circuit. He was always so kind and full of life. Another sad loss. This year has been brutal for our acting community,” actor Jeremy London shared.
Jonathan Tiersten Opened Up About His Return In ‘Sleepaway Camp‘ Sequel
“My role as Ricky this time is not as large, but I like to think it’s still fairly juicy,” Tiersten said in a 2015 interview. “It’s nice to rekindle friendships.”
“I sort of got my feet wet again as far as being an actor,” he added. “There’s a lot of Ricky still in me. I’ve been called a brooder and emotionally dark … but, definitely, as I’ve gotten older I think I’m a more ‘look on the bright side’ type of guy than when I was younger.”
