Kimberly Hart
Kimberly Ann Hart is a fictional character in the Power Rangers universe. She was the Pink Ranger on the television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and was played by the actress Amy Jo Johnson (adult) and Maxxe Sternbaum (young). Kimberly is one of the original five Power Rangers present when Rita Repulsa is released from her dumpster and starts attacking Earth. She is the typical valley girl during the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers but she seems to gain a more intelligent feel in her voice and looks when her time on the series goes on (although throughout her tenure she retains her predisposition for passing out at inopportune moments). Skull, one of the local bullies, had a crush on her for a period until when she was forced to fly and land her uncle's plane.
Mid-way through the third season (1995), Kimberly was written off the show (supposedly by request of the actress herself) and replaced by Katherine Hillard, who stood head and shoulders over Kim, played by Catherine Sutherland. She was targeted for elimination when Kat, under Rita's spell, steals her power coin, rendering the Ninja Zords useless and draining Kim of much of her powers as a Ranger and leaving her severely exhausted after combat, for Rita's possession of her power coin was absorbing not only her powers but also her very life force. One night a weakened Kim attempts some late night gymnastics training and is badly injured when she falls from her balance beam; fortunately, Kat, who had been trying to resist Rita's spell, was there, presumably following her, and called the hospital to come and pick her up. She quickly recovered and Kim almost abandoned her gymnastics training after that, but her friends encouraged her to go back to it. After that, Kimberly leaves to train under world-famous gymnastics coach Gunthar Schmidt for the Pan Global Games in what seems to be Orlando, Florida.
Tommy Oliver, played by Power Rangers veteran Jason David Frank, is Kimberly's boyfriend and the two shared many dates and tender moments. Unfortunately for him, Kimberly later met someone while in pursuing her competitions, and broke up with him in a dear John letter. This would free him to pursue a possible romance with Kim's successor, Kat.
In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, the Pink Ranger suit was modified with metal plating and a new helmet design, as well as no skirt. She also wears a white top and pink shorts when unmorphed.
Kimberly returned briefly during Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, when she and Jason Lee Scott (another of the original rangers that had since left the group) are captured by Divatox while scuba diving to serve as offerings to Maligore, Divatox's fiance.
Kimberly remains popular in fan fiction.
Trivia
- According to the MMPR Interactive CD-ROM, Kimberly's birthday was February 14, making her a Aquarius.
- Kimberly coined the expression "Morphinomenal!". It would not be used again until the Power Rangers: Wild Force episode, Forever Red.
- According to the Season One episode A Different Drum, Kimberly is fluent in American sign language.
- Kimberly's younger cousin Kelly briefly appeared in the show in Season One's Enter... the Lizzinator where she tried out for the Angel Grove Junior High cheerleading squad, following in Kimberly's footsteps.
- She is left-handed.
- Kimberly is, in many respects, similar to another later Pink Ranger, Sydney Drew of Power Rangers: S.P.D., portrayed by actress Alycia Purrott.
- Besides gymnastics and cheerleading, Kimberly was also adept in activism and playing the guitar, much like the actress that portrayed her.
- Kimberly is the second longest serving Power Ranger that never changed a position (2 and a half years, the longest serving Power Ranger without switching colors is Billy the original Blue Ranger, 3 years), however she is the longest serving female Ranger.
- Kimberly's costume for the masquerade party in the episode Life's a Masquerade was a medieval maiden.
- Kimberly played the protagonist in the class play of Rumpelstiltskin in the episode Wheel of Misfortune.
- In the episode Bloom of Doom, Kimberly was in charge of Angel Grove High's botany club.
- First Appearance: Day of the Dumpster (MMPR, Season 1, 1993)
- Last Appearance: Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)