Kevin Sorbo | |
|---|---|
 Sorbo in 2022 | |
| Born | Kevin David Sorbo (1958-09-24)September 24, 1958 (age 67) Mound, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Minnesota State University Moorhead (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, includingBraeden |
Kevin David Sorbo (born September 24, 1958) is an American actor. He has had starring roles in two television series: asHercules inHercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995–1999) and as CaptainDylan Hunt inAndromeda (2000–2005). Sorbo played his first leading film role in the 1997fantasy filmKull the Conqueror.
Sorbo is also known for acting in Christian films, such asGod's Not Dead (2014) andLet There Be Light (2017).
Sorbo was born inMound, Minnesota, on September 24, 1958.[1] He is ofNorwegian descent.[2] He was raised in aLutheran family.[3] Sorbo attendedMinnesota State University Moorhead, where he double majored in marketing and advertising.[4] To help pay for tuition, he began to work as amodel for print and television advertising.[5]
In the mid-1980s, Sorbo travelled around Europe and Australia working in television commercials and also modelling for print advertisements. During this period, he made his acting debut in an episode of the soap operaSanta Barbara in 1986. His second television appearance was in an episode of the sitcom1st & Ten in 1988. He continued working in advertising and by the early 1990s, he had appeared in over 150 commercials. One of the popular commercials he appeared in was forJim Beambourbon whiskey, known for Sorbo's repeatedcatchphrase, "This ain't Jim Beam".[6]
His acting career continued in the early 1990s with guest appearances inMurder She Wrote andThe Commish. In 1992, he played his first leading role in an unsuccessfultelevision pilot for a medical drama series titledCondition: Critical, which was not picked up, but aired as a television film onABC. In 1993, he was considered for and lost out toDean Cain asSuperman in the TV seriesLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and was one of the possible contenders for the role ofFox Mulder inThe X-Files, which went toDavid Duchovny.[7][8][9][10] In 1993, he made his film debut inSlaughter of the Innocents.[11]
In 1993, Sorbo received his breakthrough leading role as theancient greekdemigodHercules in a series of fivetelevision films that aired as part ofUniversal Television'sAction Pack.[12] The first film to premiere wasHercules and the Amazon Women, which aired in April 1994, the others following later in the year. The ratings success of the films paved the way for the commission of the television seriesHercules: The Legendary Journeys, which started airing insyndication from January 1995 and ran for six seasons. The series made Sorbo an international star and was one of the highest rated syndicated television shows at the time.[13][better source needed] The show was filmed inNew Zealand.[14]
The success of the show spawned the popularspin-off seriesXena: Warrior Princess starringLucy Lawless, who was introduced in a three-episode arc in the first season ofHercules. This allowed Sorbo as well as several other characters from both shows to makecrossover appearances. In 1998, a spin-offdirect-to-video,animated film titledHercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus was released with both Sorbo and Lawless voicing the characters.[15]
Hercules was canceled midway through the filming of Season Six, of which only eight episodes were produced. The final episode aired in November 1999.[16] Although it was not revealed at the time, health issues reduced Sorbo's abilities to perform the physically demanding role during the later seasons.[17] Sorbo made his final appearance as Hercules onXena, in the Season Five episode "God Fearing Child", which aired in February 2000.
In between his years playing Hercules, Sorbo played his first leading film role in the 1997-released filmKull the Conqueror. The actor was selected for the role in December 1995,[18] and the picture was shot inSlovakia andCroatia between August and October 1996.[19][14] In a mostly negative review,The New York Times writes, "Mr. Sorbo provides the requisite oiled torso, a hint of humor and the professionalism and good grace to act as ifKull the Conqueror mattered."[20]
In July 1997, it was announced that Sorbo would star inBlack Dog for around $3 million, withKevin Hooks slated to direct and produce and the intention to shoot in September during Sorbo's hiatus fromHercules: The Legendary Journeys.[21] During an interview, Sorbo described the film as "Die Hard meetsSpeed."[22] In September 1997,Meat Loaf andRandy Travis were signed to star opposite Sorbo.[23] However, by November of that year, it was reported thatPatrick Swayze had replaced Sorbo inBlack Dog.[24]
AfterHercules ended, Sorbo played the starring role of CaptainDylan Hunt in the science-fiction drama seriesAndromeda from 2000 to 2005. In 2006, he played a recurring role on the final season ofThe O.C.
In 2007, he starred in twodirect-to-video sequels toWalking Tall,Walking Tall: The Payback andWalking Tall: Lone Justice. In theHallmark Channel filmAvenging Angel, he co-starred with his real wife,Sam Jenkins.
In 2008, he appeared in thespoof film titledMeet the Spartans, which was a box office success despite poor reviews.[25][26]
In the first of what would be several voice acting jobs, Sorbo performed one of the main protagonists, Prometheus, in the video gameThe Conduit.[27] He also reprised the role of Hercules in the video gameGod of War III and worked together with his wife on the gameCloudberry Kingdom.[28]
In 2014, Sorbo co-starred inGod's Not Dead, aChristian film in which he portrayed an atheist college professor who requires his students to disown their religions on the first day of his class.[29]Although heavily panned by critics, it was a commercial success and the first of a sequence of Christian films that Sorbo would produce or perform.[30][31][32]
Sorbo appeared in the 2015 romantic comedySingle in South Beach, starringHaley Webb. On Twitter, in 2019, she accused Sorbo of sexual advances and of sexually harassing her on the set. However, Webb did not elaborate on any of her accusations, and he did not respond to her tweet.[33][34]
In 2017, Sorbo directed and starred in theChristian drama filmLet There Be Light, which featured conservative punditSean Hannity, who was also an executive producer. It was described by theNew Yorker as "a cynical, xenophobic morality tale, as bitter as it is saccharine" that closes with "a dénouement of bald Islamophobia".[35][36]The Los Angeles Times, although critical, says that it provides "an involving bonanza" for its intended Christian audience. Sorbo is described as bringing "puckish charm and credible warmth to his role".[37]
In 2024, he appeared in theRonald Reaganbiopic oppositeDennis Quaid, who plays the title role.[38]
Sorbo is a Christian. Although he grew upLutheran, he attends anondenominational church.[39] On January 5, 1998, Sorbo married actressSam Jenkins, whom he met the previous year when she had a small recurring role onHercules (Season 3, Episode 8 "Prince Hercules"). They have three children, includingBraeden Sorbo.[40][41] 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.[42]
In 2001, Sorbo was featured on a celebrity edition of the game showWho Wants to Be a Millionaire, winning $32,000. The money was donated to his charity, A World Fit For Kids.[43]
In late 1997, while on a publicity tour forKull the Conqueror and between the fourth and fifth seasons ofHercules, Sorbo experienced ananeurysm in his shoulder which caused threestrokes.[44][45] 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 ofHercules (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.[46] In his 2011 autobiographyTrue Strength, Sorbo revealed the details of his injury and how his wife Sam helped him recover.[47]
In 2013, Sorbo received the Public Leadership in Neurology Award from theAmerican Academy of Neurology and the American Brain Foundation for his efforts raising awareness about stroke.[48] He also received the 2013 Inspiration Honors Award from theInvisible Disabilities Association.[49]
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In 2014, during an interview with Jerry Newcombe on the radio showVocal Point, Sorbo defendedMel Gibson against allegations that his 2004 filmThe Passion of the Christ was anti-Semitic with the words: "News bulletin: you did kill Jesus!"[50] Sorbo later stated he could have rephrased his statements, but defended his stance.[51]
In February 2021, Sorbo'sFacebook page was removed due to "repeatedly sharingdebunked claims about thecoronavirus orvaccines".[52] In June 2023, Sorbo shared an article repeating the unsubstantiated claim that actorJamie Foxx had been injured by a COVID-19 vaccine.[53]
AfterDonald Trump lost the2020 presidential election, Sorbo repeatedly made remarks defending Trump'sfalse claims of election fraud.[54][55] Although he initially supported theJanuary 6 United States Capitol attack participants and encouraged them to respect the police, Sorbo subsequently backtracked and blamed the violence onantifa.[56] This led to a widely reported Twitter exchange between him and his former co-starLucy Lawless, who have exchanged conflicting views on personal and political matters throughout the past 20 years.[57][58][59][60]
In 2022, Sorbo was a featured speaker at theConservative Political Action Conference. He wore a suit lined with his own tweets.[61][62] In 2023, Sorbo published a children's book entitledThe Test of Lionhood, which explores the theme of masculinity from a Christian perspective for young boys,[63] as part of a larger fight in defense of the virtues of masculinity, which he says are being eroded in Hollywood and in society at large.[64][65]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Slaughter of the Innocents | John Willison | |
| 1997 | Kull the Conqueror | Kull | |
| 2004 | Clipping Adam | Father Dan | |
| 2007 | Walking Tall: The Payback | Nick Prescott | Direct-to-video |
| Walking Tall: Lone Justice | |||
| 2008 | Meet the Spartans | Captain | |
| Prairie Fever | Preston Biggs | Direct-to-video | |
| An American Carol | George Mulrooney | ||
| 2009 | Fire from Below | Jake Denning | |
| Bitch Slap | Mr. Phoenix | ||
| 2010 | What If... | Ben Walker | |
| Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos | Pierluigi | ||
| Tales of an Ancient Empire | Aedan | ||
| Pool Boy: Drowning Out the Fury | Sal Bando | ||
| Paradox | Sean Nault | ||
| 2011 | Soul Surfer | Holt Blanchard | |
| Julia X | The Stranger | ||
| Coffin | |||
| 2012 | Abel's Field | Abel | Executive producer[66][67] |
| Black Box | James | ||
| Sorority Party Massacre | Captain Dan Fanning | ||
| FDR: American Badass! | Abraham Lincoln | ||
| 2013 | Paranormal Movie | Security Guy | |
| Storm Rider | Sam Fielding | ||
| Alone for Christmas | Quentin | Direct-to-video | |
| 2014 | One Shot | Commander Gibson | |
| Alongside Night | Dr. Martin Vreeland | Executive producer | |
| Survivor | Captain Hunter | ||
| The Black Rider: Revelation Road | Honcho | ||
| Coffee Shop | Produzent | ||
| God's Not Dead | Professor Jeffrey Radisson | ||
| Mythica: A Quest for Heroes | Gojun Pye | ||
| 2015 | Confessions of a Prodigal Son | Father | |
| The Sparrows: Nesting | Pastor Dave | ||
| Single in South Beach | Sam | ||
| Hope Bridge | Pastor | ||
| Mythica: The Darkspore | Gojun Pye | ||
| One More Round | Billy Jack Taylor | ||
| Gallows Road | Frank | ||
| Mythica: The Necromancer | Gojun Pye | ||
| 2016 | Caged No More | Richard / Jack | |
| Forgiven | Lieutenant Morgan | ||
| Mythica: The Iron Crown | Gojun Pye | ||
| Rodeo Girl | Duke Williams[68] | ||
| Mythica: The Godslayer | Gojun Pye | ||
| Joseph & Mary | Joseph | ||
| Spirit of the Game | Parley Condie | ||
| 2017 | Let There Be Light | Dr. Sol Harkins | Director |
| 2018 | Bernie the Dolphin | Winston Mills | |
| 2019 | The Reliant | [69] | |
| Miracle in East Texas | Doc Boyd | Director, wide release in 2023[70] | |
| Bernie the Dolphin 2 | Winston Mills | ||
| 2020 | The Penitent Thief | King Herod[71] | |
| Against the tide | Himself | ||
| 2021 | The Girl Who Believes in Miracles | Dr. Ben Riley | |
| Trail Blazers | Ethan | Post-production | |
| 2023 | Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist | Rayford Steele | Director |
| Alien Storm | President of the U.S. | ||
| 2024 | The Firing Squad | Pastor Lynbrook | |
| Reagan | Reverend Cleaver | [72] | |
| Until the Last Promise | Pastor Thomas | ||
| And God Made Man | Rev. Ernestine Coughlin | ||
| Jesus Freaks | Adult Josh | ||
| A Christmas Heart | Detective Kevin Powers | ||
| I Feel Fine | Dr. Sanders | ||
| God's Here | Detective Kevin Powers | ||
| Devil's Knight | Guard Captain Baldur | ||
| The Last Redemption | Lord Roland | Producer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Santa Barbara | Lars | 1 episode |
| 1988 | 1st & Ten | Barry | Episode: "...The Clock Runs Out" |
| 1992 | Cheers | Uncredited | Episode: "License to Hill" |
| Condition: Critical | Dr. Thaddeus Kocinski | Television film | |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Michael Burke | Episode: "A Virtual Murder" |
| The Commish | Mark | Episode: "Dying Affection" | |
| 1994 | Hercules and the Amazon Women | Hercules | Television film |
| Hercules and the Lost Kingdom | |||
| Hercules and the Circle of Fire | |||
| Hercules in the Underworld | |||
| Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur | |||
| 1995–1999 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | 111 episodes; also Director for episodes #2.17 & #3.20 | |
| 1995 | Cybill | Rick | Episode: "The Last Temptation of Cybill" |
| 1995–2000 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Hercules | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus | Voice | |
| 1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Scott | Episode: "An Axe to Grind" |
| 2000–2005 | Andromeda | Captain Dylan Hunt | 110 episodes; executive producer |
| 2001 | Dharma & Greg | Charlie | 4 episodes |
| 2003 | According to Jim | Darryl Buckner | Episode: "The Pass" |
| 2004 | Hope & Faith | Kenny | Episode: "Mismatch" |
| 2005 | Love, Inc. | Father John | Episode: "Amen" |
| 2006 | Two and a Half Men | Andy | Episode: "Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Burro" |
| Last Chance Café | Chance Coulter | Television film | |
| 2006–2007 | The O.C. | Frank Atwood | 7 episodes |
| 2007 | Avenging Angel | Preacher | Television film |
| Psych | Byrd Tatums | Episode: "Bounty Hunters!" | |
| Something Beneath | Father Douglas Middleton | Television film | |
| 2008 | Never Cry Werewolf | Redd Tucker | |
| The Middleman | 1969 middleman / Guy Goddard | Episode: "The Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown" | |
| 2009 | Gary Unmarried | Larry | "Seven" |
| Lightning Strikes | Ted Bradly | Television film | |
| 2009–2010 | The Super Hero Squad Show | Ka-Zar | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Wolf Canyon | Rick / Sheriff Wolf | Television film; also executive producer |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 | Carlton Bass | Episode: "Ko'olauloa" |
| The Santa Suit | Drake Hunter / Santa Claus | Television film | |
| 2011 | Flesh Wounds | Lt. Tyler | |
| The Guild | Himself | Episode: "Social Traumas" | |
| 2012 | Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 | Episode: "The Wedding" | |
| Key & Peele | Brad | Episode #2.6[73] | |
| Christmas Angel | Dr. Nathan Davis | Television film | |
| The Eric André Show | Himself | Episode: "The Eric André New Year's Eve Spooktacular" | |
| 2013 | Shadow on the Mesa | Ray Eastman | Television film |
| 2017 | Supergirl | Lar Gand | 3 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Mortal Kombat 4 | Reiko, Quan Chi | Voice |
| 2009 | The Conduit | Prometheus | |
| 2010 | God of War III | Hercules | |
| 2012 | Skylanders: Giants | Crusher | |
| 2013 | Skylanders: Swap Force | ||
| Cloudberry Kingdom | Bob | ||
| 2014 | Skylanders: Trap Team | Crusher | |
| 2015 | Smite | Hercules (Retro Skin) | |
| Skylanders: SuperChargers | Crusher | ||
| 2016 | Skylanders: Imaginators |
Hercules hunk Kevin Sorbo has revealed that he nearly played Fox Mulder in The X Files. The 6ft 3in muscleman was beaten to the role by 5ft 7in David Duchovny after the two auditioned for creator Chris Carter.
You were previously up to play roles like Superman and Mulder in The X-Files before your Hercules days.
People make too big a deal out of me getting the Agent Mulder role in that, he said with a laugh.I got in to read twice for that part. Nowhere near getting it. How would he be different if I played him? Mulder would be taller.
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