Jonathan Tiersten (August 11, 1965 – April or May 2026)[1] was an American actor and musician. He was primarily known for his role as Ricky Thomas in the 1983 cult slasher film Sleepaway Camp. He reprised the role in the 2008 sequel Return to Sleepaway Camp.
Jonathan Tiersten | |
|---|---|
 Tiersten in 2009 | |
| Born | August 11, 1965 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April or May 2026 (aged 60) New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1981–2026 |
Early life
editTiersten was born in Queens, New York City,[1] and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey.[2] Tiersten studied acting at New York University.[2][3]
Career
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2026) |
Acting
editHe made his screen debut with an uncredited role in a 1981 episode of Another World before being cast as Ricky Thomas in the 1983 slasher film Sleepaway Camp.[1][4] Tiersten reprised his role in the 2008 sequel Return to Sleepaway Camp.[1]
In 2012 and 2013 Tiersten garnered three best actor awards and was nominated for a fourth for his portrayal of John Doesy in the horror film The Perfect House.[citation needed]
Music
editIn between acting Jonathan took to music, fronting a number of bands, mostly based out of the Fort Collins, Colorado area.[2] Tiersten was the lead singer of the band Ten Tiers and composed the score to a short starring David Krumholtz. Tiersten also starred in the 2012 film The Perfect House in which he played a serial killer named John Doesy and the thriller film Redemption which co-stars George Loros and Meredith Ostrom. Tiersten also composed the theme song for The Perfect House and contributed to the soundtrack of Redemption. Tiersten's 2011 EP We'll See, released by Edward Records, ranked third in Magnet magazine's most anticipated albums list. Shakefire.com called the album "surprising" and "simply amazing", rating it 4 out of 4 stars.[citation needed]
Tiersten also recorded a version of the Mickey & Sylvia song "Love Is Strange" for the remake of Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space called Plan 9, starring Brian Krause.[citation needed]
Death
editOn May 5, 2026, it was announced that Tiersten had died at the age of 60[5] at his New Jersey home the prior week.[1] His death was confirmed by his brother, William.[1]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Sleepaway Camp | Ricky Thomas | Credited as Jonathan Tierston | [6] |
| 2008 | Return to Sleepaway Camp | [1] | ||
| 2012 | Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor | |||
| 2013 | The Perfect House | John Doesy | [1] | |
| 2016 | Sugar! | Joe | [7] | |
| 2019 | Terror Tales | Segment: "The Sledgehammer" | [8] | |
| Lake of Shadows | Alex Kintner | |||
| 2021 | Toilet Zombie Baby Strikes Back | Eric Sommers | [1] | |
| 2022 | Last American Horror Show: Volume II | Captain Strike | [9] | |
| Time's Up | Gene | [1] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Another World | Kid With Basketball | 1 episode | [5] |
| 1984 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Chip Beddington | Episode: "The Alfred G. Graebner Memorial High School Handbook of Rules and Regulations" | |
| 1987 | ABC Afterschool Special | Jason | Episode: "Seasonal Differences" | [10] |
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Russell, Shania (May 5, 2026). "Jonathan Tiersten, star of cult slasher film Sleepaway Camp, dies at 60". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 6, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Selzer, Hal B. (May 4, 2011). "Local Noise: Jonathan Tiersten & The Ten Tiers". The Aquarian. Archived from the original on April 25, 2025.
- ↑ Davis, French (September 26, 2013). "10 Questions with Jonathan Tiersten". Yellow Scene Magazine. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024.
- ↑ Martin, Todd (May 26, 2012). "Interview: Jonathan Tiersten (Sleepaway Camp)". HorrorNews.net. Archived from the original on February 16, 2025.
- 1 2 Lammers, Tim (May 5, 2026). "Jonathan Tiersten, 'Sleepaway Camp' Star, Dies At 60". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 6, 2026.
- ↑ Casciato, Cory (August 15, 2013). "Camp Fever". Westword. Archived from the original on January 13, 2026.
- ↑ Hamman, Cody (May 5, 2026). "Jonathan Tiersten of Sleepaway Camp has passed away at age 60". JoBlo.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Actress Laurene Landon's to Star in Terror Tales". Newswire. February 19, 2016. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Last American Horror Show: Volume II". Mubi. Archived from the original on May 6, 2026.
- ↑ Albrizio, Carrie (December 15, 1990). "TV special deals with religious differences". Asbury Park Press. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
edit- Jonathan Tiersten at IMDb
- Jonathan Tiersten discography at Discogs