Kevin Sorbo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kevin Sorbo
Sorbo in 2022
Born	Kevin David Sorbo (1958-09-24) September 24, 1958 (age 66) Mound, Minnesota, U.S.
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.

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

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

Television Shows

Video Games

See also

In Spanish: Kevin Sorbo para niños