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Actor Jonathan Tiersten, 60, Dies; Cause Under Investigation

5/5/2026

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Summary

Jonathan Tiersten Dies

Jonathan Tiersten died at 60; his brother William confirmed the death while cause is under investigation.
He played Ricky Thomas in the 1983 film Sleepaway Camp and reprised the role in the 2008 sequel Return to Sleepaway Camp.
Tiersten fronted Ten Tiers, scored Demption, owned The Mountain Tap Tavern in Fort Collins, Colorado, lived in Marina del Rey, California, and acted in The Perfect House, Terror Tales, and Time’s Up.

Summary

Jonathan Tiersten Honored

Sleepaway Camp (1983) earned roughly $11 million at the box office, cementing its cult status.
Actor Tiersten won three best-actor awards for The Perfect House at film festivals.
The Macabre Faire Film Festival in New York and The Underdogs Film Festival in Texas honored him for his horror work.
A remake of Sleepaway Camp is in development, keeping his Ricky Thomas portrayal a case study in genre acting for film schools.

Summary

Jonathan Tiersten Death

Jonathan Tiersten died at his home in New Jersey, according to his brother William Tiersten.
William Tiersten told reporters he does not know the specific New Jersey town where his brother lived.
The medical examiner has not released a definitive cause of death, leaving the circumstances unresolved.
Tiersten, 60, is survived by a son whose name was not disclosed.

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Jonathan Tiersten Dies

Jonathan Tiersten died at 60; his brother William confirmed the death while cause is under investigation.
He played Ricky Thomas in the 1983 film Sleepaway Camp and reprised the role in the 2008 sequel Return to Sleepaway Camp.
Tiersten fronted Ten Tiers, scored Demption, owned The Mountain Tap Tavern in Fort Collins, Colorado, lived in Marina del Rey, California, and acted in The Perfect House, Terror Tales, and Time’s Up.

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