We have some very sad news to report today, as word has started going around that actor, stuntman, and former NYC police officer Steve Daskawisz – better known as Steve Dash – has passed away at the age of 74.
Dash was the man beneath the sack iconic slasher Jason Voorhees wore as a mask in 1981's FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2, a role it took him decades to receive the proper credit for. Years went by with fans believing that Warrington Gillette played Jason for the majority of that film, but it eventually came out that, although Gillette is Jason for the moment when the unmasked killer jumps through a window, it was Dash who played Jason through the kills and the chases.
As the films went on, Jason would replace the sack with a hockey mask and take on a different build, but for his first on screen killing spree it was Dash who brought him to life and created a version of Jason that, while different from what followed, is a very cool and creepy take on the character in its own right.
After stepping up to claim the credit for his performance, Dash spent more than a decade as a regular on the convention scene, having fun meeting fans and sharing stories about the making of FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2, which was a challenging experience for him. At one point during the filming he fell on the pick axe Jason was using as a weapon, breaking some ribs. During the filming of the climactic moments, heroine Amy Steel accidentally cut one of Dash's fingers with a machete, causing him to have to go to the hospital and get 13 stitches in his finger.
Dash's health declined in the last year. During a convention appearance this year he mentioned that he had recently had a heart attack, and on December 4th he took to his Facebook page to let fans know that he had been dealing with diabetes, blood clots, and a bad heart. His left leg was due to be amputated on the 5th of this month, but he was looking forward to getting a prosthetic leg and getting back to the golf course in six to eight weeks.
Sadly, he passed away yesterday.
I had the chance to meet Dash on more than one occasion, and always found him to be a very fun, entertaining person to be in the presence of. The stories he had to tell were awesome to hear, and I'll always have a deep appreciation for his contribution to the FRIDAY THE 13TH franchise. He will be greatly missed.
Our condolences go out to Dash's family, friends, and fans. R.I.P.
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