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Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
Sorbo in 2022
Born
Kevin David Sorbo

(1958-09-24) September 24, 1958 (age 66)
Alma mater Minnesota State University Moorhead (BA)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • producer
  • director
Years active 1984–present
Spouse(s)
Sam Jenkins
(m. 1998)
Children 3, including Braeden Sorbo

Kevin David Sorbo, born on September 24, 1958, is an actor from the United States. He is famous for playing Hercules in the TV show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995–1999). He also starred as Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda (2000–2005). While playing Hercules, he also starred in his first movie, the 1997 fantasy film Kull the Conqueror. Kevin Sorbo is also known for acting in movies with Christian themes, like God's Not Dead (2014) and Let There Be Light (2017).

Early Life and Education

Kevin Sorbo was born in Mound, Minnesota, on September 24, 1958. His family comes from Norway. He grew up in a Lutheran family. Kevin went to Minnesota State University Moorhead. There, he studied both marketing and advertising. To help pay for college, he started working as a model for ads in magazines and on TV.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out in Acting

In the mid-1980s, Kevin Sorbo traveled around Europe and Australia. He worked in TV commercials and modeled for print ads. By the early 1990s, he had been in over 150 commercials. One famous commercial was for Jim Beam whiskey. He often said the line, "This ain't Jim Beam."

He first acted in a TV show called Santa Barbara in 1986. After that, he appeared in shows like 1st & Ten and Murder She Wrote. In 1993, he made his first movie appearance. He had a small role in Slaughter of the Innocents.

Becoming Hercules: A Big Break

In 1993, Sorbo got his most famous role. He played the ancient greek demigod Hercules. This was for a series of five TV movies. The first movie, Hercules and the Amazon Women, came out in 1994. These movies were very popular.

Their success led to the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. It started in 1995 and ran for six seasons. The show made Sorbo an international star. It was one of the most-watched syndicated TV shows. The series was filmed in New Zealand.

The show's success also led to a popular spin-off series. This was Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Lucy Lawless. Characters from both shows often appeared in each other's episodes. In 1998, an animated movie was released. It was called Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus. Both Sorbo and Lawless voiced their characters in it.

Hercules ended during its sixth season in 1999. Kevin Sorbo had health issues that made the physical role hard. He made his last appearance as Hercules on Xena in 2000.

While playing Hercules, Sorbo also starred in the 1997 film Kull the Conqueror. He was chosen for the role in 1995. The movie was filmed in Slovakia and Croatia.

After Hercules: New Roles

After Hercules, Sorbo starred in the science-fiction show Andromeda. He played Captain Dylan Hunt from 2000 to 2005. In 2006, he had a recurring role on the show The O.C..

In 2007, he starred in two direct-to-video movies. These were Walking Tall: The Payback and Walking Tall: Lone Justice. In the Hallmark Channel movie Avenging Angel, he acted with his wife, Sam Jenkins.

In 2008, he appeared in the spoof film Meet the Spartans. This movie was a box office success.

Kevin Sorbo 03
Sorbo in 2013

Kevin Sorbo also started doing voice acting. He voiced Prometheus in the video game The Conduit. He also voiced Hercules in the game God of War III. He worked with his wife on the game Cloudberry Kingdom.

In 2014, Sorbo co-starred in God's Not Dead. This was a Christian film. He played a college professor who did not believe in God. The movie was very successful. It was the first of many Christian films Sorbo would be in.

In 2017, Sorbo directed and starred in the Christian film Let There Be Light. This movie also featured conservative commentator Sean Hannity. In 2024, he appeared in a movie about Ronald Reagan.

Personal Life and Health

Kevin Sorbo is a Christian. He grew up Lutheran but now attends a nondenominational church. On January 5, 1998, Sorbo married actress Sam Jenkins. They met when she had a small role on Hercules. They have three children, including Braeden Sorbo. Sorbo is the spokesperson for A World Fit for Kids! (AWFFK!). This group trains teenagers to mentor younger children.

In 2001, Sorbo was on a celebrity version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. He won $32,000. He gave the money to his charity, A World Fit For Kids.

Health Challenges

In late 1997, Kevin Sorbo had a health issue. He had an aneurysm in his shoulder. This caused three strokes. He was weakened for several years. This was kept secret while he recovered. During the last two seasons of Hercules, Sorbo had a lighter filming schedule. More guest stars were featured to reduce his work. In his 2011 book True Strength, Sorbo shared details about his injury. He wrote about how his wife Sam helped him recover.

In 2013, Sorbo received an award. It was for raising awareness about stroke. He also received the 2013 Inspiration Honors Award. This was from the Invisible Disabilities Association.

Views and Public Statements

Kevin Sorbo (50764234743)
Sorbo in 2020 at an event hosted by Turning Point USA

In 2014, Kevin Sorbo defended the film The Passion of the Christ. He said he could have phrased his statements better.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook removed his page. They said he shared "debunked claims" about the virus or vaccines. Sorbo said he posted things doctors said. He also said Facebook had been limiting his posts for a year.

After the 2020 presidential election, Sorbo supported claims of election issues. He initially supported the protestors. He asked them to respect the police. Later, he blamed the violence on antifa. This led to a public discussion with his former co-star Lucy Lawless. They have shared different views over the years.

In 2022, Sorbo spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference. In 2023, Sorbo published a children's book. It is called The Test of Lionhood. The book talks about masculinity from a Christian view. He believes these values are important.

Filmography

Movies

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
... 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
Black Box James
Sorority Party Massacre Captain Dan Fanning
FDR: American ...! 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
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
Miracle in East Texas Doc Boyd Director, wide release in 2023
Bernie the Dolphin 2 Winston Mills
2020 The Penitent Thief King Herod
Against the tide Himself
2021 The Girl Who Believes in Miracles Dr. David 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
Until the Last Promise Pastor Thomas
Devil's Knight Guard Captain Baldur
The Last Redemption Lord Roland Producer

Television Shows

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
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

Video Games

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

See also

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