Jack Banning

Jack Banning (August 21, 1931-July 10, 2005) was an American television, film, and theater actor best known for playing Professor Phenomenus in Power Rangers: In Space and Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy. He was born Jacob Becker in Brooklyn, New York. Banning landed a role in a Broadway play as a young man, but, after marrying and having three children, his acting career was put on hold until his late 50s, when he returned to acting.

Before joining Power Rangers, Banning was featured, mostly in minor roles, in films such as Playing for Keeps, Bitter Veangence, Top Dog, Bloodhounds, and Reasons of the Heart, as well as television shows such as Apple's Way, Renegade, and Silk Stalkings. After departing Power Rangers, Banning continued acting, making guest appearences on the television series The Invisible Man and The Chronicle.

On stage, Banning's credits included As You Like It, Taming of the Shrew, The Legacy, Unquestioned Integrity, and Broadway performances of Inherit the Wind, World of Sholom Aleichem, and The Story Teller. His final performance was a stage version of Of Mice and Men just weeks before his death, which some have called his best performance of his lifetime.

In addition to his acting credits, Banning also acted as a mentor to young actors and taught acting classes up to his death

Banning died on July 10, 2005 from complications of pneumonia.