Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo | |
|---|---|
 Sorbo speaking at Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest in December 2015 | |
| Born | Kevin David Sorbo September 24, 1958 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | kevinsorbo |
Kevin David Sorbo[1] (born September 24, 1958) is an American actor. He is best known for his starring roles in two television series: as Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and as Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda.
Early life
Kevin Sorbo was born in Mound, Minnesota, where he attended Mound Westonka High School. He is the son of Ardis, a nurse, and Lynn Sorbo, a junior high school mathematics and biology teacher.[1] His father is of Norwegian descent, while his mother has English, German and Scottish ancestry.[2][3][4] He was raised in a Lutheran family. Sorbo attended Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he double majored in marketing and advertising. To help make tuition, he began to work as a model for print and television advertising in the 1980s.
Career
Sorbo started his acting career in 1986 making guest appearances in several television series such as 1st & Ten, Murder She Wrote and The Commish. He was considered for and lost out to Dean Cain as Superman in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and was a possible contender for the role of Agent Mulder in The X Files which went to David Duchovny.[5][6] He worked in commercials, and in 1993 he began a popular series of international TV ads for Jim Beam bourbon whiskey, known for Sorbo's repeated catchphrase "It ain't Jim Beam".[7]
In 1994, he got his breakthrough leading role of Hercules in a series of television pilots first of which was titled Hercules and the Amazon Women. These pilots led to him starring in the fantasy adventure series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, which ran from 1995 to 1999 and lasted for 111 episodes. He also directed a few episodes of the series. During the series run, he also guest-starred in two episodes of the 1995–2001 spin-off series Xena: Warrior Princess and provided the voice of Hercules in the 1998 direct-to-video animated film Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus.[8]
In between the years playing Hercules, he played his first leading film role in Kull the Conqueror (1997).[9] After Hercules came to an end, Sorbo played the starring role of Captain Dylan Hunt in the science-fiction drama series Andromeda from 2000 to 2005. In 2006, he played a recurring role on the final season of The O.C. and guest-starred in the sitcom Two and a Half Men. In 2007, he starred in the direct-to-video film Walking Tall: The Payback, which was a sequel to the 2004 film Walking Tall. He reprised his role in the second sequel, Walking Tall: Lone Justice which released later that year. He also starred in the Lifetime Channel film Last Chance Café, the Hallmark Channel film Avenging Angel, co-starring his real life wife Sam Jenkins and guest starred as a bounty hunter in the season-two episode "Bounty Hunters!" of the series Psych. He appeared in the 2008 spoof film Meet the Spartans, which was a box office success[10] despite being universally negatively reviewed by critics.[11] He starred in the Albert Pyun directed science fiction vampire film Tales of an Ancient Empire.[12]
He served as Executive Producer and star of the movie Abel's Field in 2012.[13] In 2012, Sorbo appeared in an episode of Celebrity Ghost Stories to recount an experience he had while in Minnesota shortly after he graduated from college. He and his girlfriend claimed to have seen the ghost of the "Bride of White Rock Lake" – a woman who supposedly died on her wedding day, murdered by a former lover.[14]
Sorbo voiced one of the main protagonists, Prometheus, in the Wii video game The Conduit.[15] Sorbo returned to the role of Hercules in a more sinister portrayal, in the video game God of War III, which was released for the PlayStation 3 in March 2010.[16]
In July 2013, Sorbo, along with his wife, Sam, provided voice over for characters in the video game Cloudberry Kingdom[17] In 2014, Sorbo co-starred in God's Not Dead, a Christian film in which he portrayed an atheist college professor who requires his students to disown their religions on the first day of his class.[18]
He also voiced Crusher in the Skylanders franchise and Retro Hercules in Smite.
He has an uncredited role as a Security Guard in Paranormal Movie.
Personal life
In late 1997 while on a publicity tour for Kull the Conqueror and between the fourth and fifth seasons of Hercules, the newly engaged Sorbo experienced an aneurysm in his shoulder which caused three strokes.[19][20] As a result, he was weakened for the next several years, a condition kept secret from the public while he recovered. During the last two seasons of Hercules (the fifth and sixth, which aired in 1998 and 1999), Sorbo had a reduced filming schedule to accommodate his condition, and more guest stars were featured in the show in order to reduce Sorbo's duties.[21] The strokes, thought to be triggered when chiropractic manipulation of his shoulder released blood clots from the aneurysm, left Sorbo with a permanent 10 percent vision loss, weakness, impaired balance, and migraines.[22] In his 2011 autobiography True Strength, Sorbo revealed the details of his injury and how his wife Sam helped him recover.[23]
On January 5, 1998, Sorbo married actress Sam Jenkins, whom he met the previous year when she had a guest role on Hercules. They have three children: Braedon Cooper (born 2001), Shane Haaken (born 2004), and Octavia Flynn (born 2005).[24] Sorbo is the spokesman and chair of A World Fit for Kids! (AWFFK!), a non-profit organization that trains teenagers to become mentors to younger children.[25]
In 2001, Sorbo was featured on the Celebrity Edition of TV Hit Game Show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, winning $32,000 after giving Regis Philbin the wrong answer at the $125,000 question for his charity A World Fit For Kids.
Religious and political beliefs
Sorbo is a Christian, and believes that his religious views have caused Hollywood to limit his career.[26] In August 2014, he gave a call-in interview to the Christian-themed Peter Heck Radio Show, during which the 2014 film Noah and its writer-producer-director Darren Aronofsky were briefly discussed. Sorbo made the following comment about Hollywood not being serious about Biblical movies, as evidenced by Aronofsky, a professed atheist,[27] being hired to make the Old Testament story of Noah: "I sort of understand why they don't want to deal with the New Testament in Hollywood because, you know, it's, it's pretty much run by the world of the Jewish population, and, at the same time, at least get someone who has, at least beliefs, that the potential is there, that it could be a real story."[28]
Sorbo considers himself politically independent,[29] but has expressed interest in the libertarian philosophy of agorism.[30]
Filmography
Actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Condition: Critical | Dr. Thaddeus Kocinski | |
| 1994 | Slaughter of the Innocents | John Willison | |
| 1994 | Hercules and the Amazon Women | Hercules | |
| 1994 | Hercules and the Lost Kingdom | Hercules | |
| 1994 | Hercules and the Circle of Fire | Hercules | |
| 1994 | Hercules in the Underworld | Hercules | |
| 1994 | Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur | Hercules | |
| 1995–1999 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Hercules | 111 episodes |
| 1997 | Kull the Conqueror | Kull | |
| 1998 | Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus | Hercules | Voice only |
| 1998 | The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom | Rothbart | Voice only |
| 1998 | Mighty Joe Young | Gorilla | Voice only |
| 2000–2005 | Andromeda | Captain Dylan Hunt | 110 episodes |
| 2007 | Walking Tall: The Payback | Nick Prescott | |
| 2007 | Walking Tall: Lone Justice | Nick Prescott | |
| 2007 | Something Beneath | Father Douglas Middleton | |
| 2007 | Avenging Angel | Preacher | |
| 2007 | Last Chance Café | Chance Coulter | |
| 2008 | Meet the Spartans | Captain | |
| 2008 | Prairie Fever | Preston Biggs | |
| 2008 | An American Carol | George Mulrooney | |
| 2008 | Never Cry Werewolf | Redd Tucker | |
| 2009 | What If... | Ben Walker | |
| 2009 | Fire From Below | Jake Denning | |
| 2009 | Bitch Slap | Mr. Phoenix | |
| 2009 | Paradox | Sean Nault | |
| 2009 | Lightning Strikes | Ted Bradly | |
| 2009 | Wolf Canyon | Rick / Sheriff Wolf | |
| 2010 | Tales of an Ancient Empire | Aedan | |
| 2010 | The Santa Suit | Drake Hunter / Santa Claus | |
| 2010 | Pool Boy: Drowning Out the Fury | Sal Bando | |
| 2011 | Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos | Pierluigi | |
| 2011 | Soul Surfer | Holt Blanchard | |
| 2011 | Julia X | The Stranger | |
| 2011 | Coffin | ||
| 2012 | Christmas Angel | Dr. Nathan Davis | |
| 2012 | Abel's Field | Abel | Executive Producer |
| 2012 | Sorority Party Massacre | Captain Dan Fanning | |
| 2013 | Paranormal Movie | Security Guy | |
| 2013 | Shadow on the Mesa | Ray Eastman | |
| 2013 | Storm Rider | Sam Fielding | |
| 2013 | Alone for Christmas | Quentin | |
| 2014 | Alongside Night | Dr. Martin Vreeland | |
| 2014 | Survivor | Captain Hunter | |
| 2014 | God's Not Dead | Professor Radison | |
| 2015 | Mythica: A Quest for Heroes | Gojun Pye | |
| 2015 | Mythica: The Darkspore | Gojun Pye | |
| 2015 | Mythica: The Necromancer | Gojun Pye | |
| 2015 | Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! | Colonel Tony Saracen | |
| 2015 | Confessions of a Prodigal Son | Father | |
| 2016 | Caged No More | Richard / Jack | |
| 2016 | Mythica: The Iron Crown | Gojun Pye | |
| 2016 | Rodeo Girl | Duke Williams | |
| 2016 | Mythica: The Godslayer | Gojun Pye |
Guest star
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 1st & Ten | Barry | "...The Clock Runs Out" |
| 1991 | Santa Barbara | Delivery man | |
| 1992 | Cheers | Uncredited | "License to Hill" |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Michael Burke | "A Virtual Murder" |
| 1993 | The Commish | Mark | "Dying Affection" |
| 1995 | Cybill | Rick | "The Last Temptation of Cybill" |
| 1995 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Hercules | "Prometheus" |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Himself | |
| 1998 | Sin City Spectacular | Himself | |
| 1998 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Himself | |
| 1998 | Mad TV | Himself | |
| 1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Scott | "An Axe to Grind" |
| 2000 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Hercules | "God Fearing Child" |
| 2000 | Celebrity Profile | Himself | "Kevin Sorbo" |
| 2000 | The Howard Stern Radio Show | Himself | |
| 2001 | Dharma & Greg | Charlie | "Educating Dharma: Part 1 & 2" |
| 2001 | The Howard Stern Radio Show | Himself | |
| 2001 | Dharma & Greg | Charlie | "The End of the Innocence: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2001 | The Big Breakfast | Himself | |
| 2003 | According to Jim | Darryl Buckner | "The Pass" |
| 2004 | Hope & Faith | Kenny | "Mismatch" |
| 2004 | Live with Regis and Kelly | Himself | |
| 2005 | Love, Inc. | Father John | "Amen" |
| 2006 | Two and a Half Men | Andy | "Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Burro" |
| 2007 | The O.C. | Frank Atwood | "The Earth Girls Are Easy", "The My Two Dads", "The Groundhog Day", "The Case Of The Franks", "The Shake-Up", "The Night Moves", "The End's Not Near, It's Here" |
| 2007 | Psych | Byrd Tatums | "Bounty Hunters!" |
| 2008 | The Middleman | 1969 middleman / Guy Goddard | "The Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown" |
| 2009 | Gary Unmarried | Larry | "Seven" |
| 2010 | Super Hero Squad Show | Ka-Zar | Voice only |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 | Carlton Bass | "Ko'olauloa" |
| 2011 | The Guild | Himself | "Social Traumas" |
| 2012 | Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 | Himself | "The Wedding" |
| 2015 | The Sparrow | Pastor Dave |
Producer
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–2005 | Andromeda | Executive producer |
| 2009 | Wolf Canyon | |
| 2014 | Alongside Night |
Director
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Conduit | Prometheus | Voice only |
| 2010 | God of War III | Hercules | Voice only |
| 2012 | Skylanders: Giants | Crusher | Voice only |
| 2013 | Skylanders: Swap Force | Crusher | Voice only |
| Cloudberry Kingdom | Bob | Voice only | |
| 2014 | Skylanders: Trap Team | Crusher | Voice only |
| 2015 | Smite | Hercules (Retro Skin) | Voice only |
| Skylanders: SuperChargers | Crusher | Voice only | |
| 2016 | Skylanders: Imaginators | Crusher | Voice only |
References
- ^ a b "Kevin Sorbo Biography (1958–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
- ^ "KSJAA - Kevin Sorbo bio 1958-77". narod.ru.
- ^ "Genealogies of Sorbo's maternal great-grandfather". Retrieved March 22, 2014.
- ^ "Genealogies of Sorbo's maternal great-grandmother". Retrieved March 22, 2014.
- ^ "Fantastic Fest: Kevin Sorbo on the Twisted Julia X 3D, Christian Films, and Hollywood Snobbery". movieline.com. September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "Catching Up with Kevin Sorbo". Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ Mendoza, N.F. (November 6, 1994). "With an Eye On: Kevin Sorbo's Hercules is strong stuff but not exactly his serious side". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ "Kevin sorbo". Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "Kull the Conqueror (1997)". New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office Chart for January 25th, 2008". The Numbers. January 25, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
- ^ "Meet the Spartans". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
- ^ Woman, The (March 26, 2010). "Pre-Order Tales of an Ancient Empire; Work-in-Progress Screengrab & Behind-the-Scenes Clip | Horror Movie, DVD, & Book Reviews, News, Interviews at Dread Central". Dreadcentral.com. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
- ^ "Abel's Field with Kevin Sorbo and Samuel Davis an Inspiring Movie – Christian Activities". christianactivities.com. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ "Celebrity Ghost Stories - Kevin Sorbo - Ghostly Bride". Bio.com. Youtube. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "The Conduit Gets Hollywood Voice Talent". cinema blend. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "God of War III Kevin Sorbo voice of Hercules". youtube.com. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ Conditt, Jessica (October 3, 2012). "Kevin Sorbo, Sam Sorbo, Martin Olson star in Cloudberry Kingdom". Joystiq. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
- ^ "'God's Not Dead' Actor Says Hollywood Is 'Waking Up' to Christian Films". christianpost.com. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "Hercules Actor Kevin Sorbo's Miracle Healing – CBN TV – Video". Cbn.com. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
- ^ Gostin, Nicki (October 19, 2011). "Kevin Sorbo's 'True Strength': 'Hercules' Star Says Strokes Were Blessings In Disguise". Huffington Post. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ Hammel, Sara. "Hercules Star Kevin Sorbo Reveals He's Had Several Strokes". People.com. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
- ^ Symons, Jane (February 28, 2012). "Kevin Sorbo: Three strokes left me fighting for my life". Daily Express. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ "True Strength: My Journey from Hercules to Mere Mortal--and How Nearly Dying Saved My Life". Da Capo Press. October 11, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- ^ "Sam Sorbo talks hubby Kevin Sorbo & True Strength: He truly is my hero". sorbowriter.wordpress.com. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "Kevin Sorbo Uses Faith to Make 'World Fit for Kids'". cbn.com. August 27, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "Kevin Sorbo: Why is Hollywood so afraid of God?". Fox News. March 20, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ^ Chumley, Cheryl K. (March 24, 2014). "Atheist 'Noah' director brags film is least biblical Bible movie ever". washingtontimes.com. The Washington Times. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Sorbo is Solid". peterheck.com. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ Hallowell, Billy (February 6, 2013). "Hercules' Actor Kevin Sorbo Bashes Hollywood's Liberal Hypocrisy and Rips Obama: 'One of the Worst Records' in American History". TheBlaze.com. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ Circle, Silver (December 10, 2012). "Kevin Sorbo talks about ending the printing press and Learning about Agorism". silverunderground.com. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
External links
- 1958 births
- Living people
- People from Mound, Minnesota
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American Christians
- American Lutherans
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American memoirists
- American people of English descent
- American people of German descent
- American people of Norwegian descent
- American people of Scottish descent
- American television directors
- Male actors from Minnesota
- Male Western (genre) film actors
- Minnesota State University Moorhead alumni
- University of Minnesota alumni
- Stroke survivors