Editing Kevin Sorbo (section)

==Career==
===Early work===
In the mid-1980s, Sorbo traveled around Europe and Australia working in television commercials and also modeling for print advertisements. During this period, he made his acting debut in an episode of the soap opera ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]'' in 1986. His second television appearance was in an episode of the sitcom ''[[1st & Ten (1984 TV series)|1st & 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 for [[Jim Beam]] [[bourbon whiskey]], known for Sorbo's repeated [[catchphrase]], "This ain't Jim Beam".<ref>{{cite news |last=Mendoza |first=N.F. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-06-tv-59138-story.html |title=With an Eye On: Kevin Sorbo's Hercules is strong stuff but not exactly his serious side |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 6, 1994 |access-date=May 6, 2016 |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603130129/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-11-06/news/tv-59138_1_kevin-sorbo |url-status=live }}</ref> 

His acting career continued with guest appearances in ''[[Murder She Wrote]]''  and ''[[The Commish]]''. In 1992, he played his first leading role in an unsuccessful [[television pilot]] for a medical drama series titled ''Condition: Critical'', which was not picked up, but aired as a television film on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. In 1993, he was considered for and lost out to [[Dean Cain]] as [[Superman]] in the TV series ''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'' and was one of the possible contenders for the role of [[Fox Mulder]] in ''[[The X-Files]]'', which went to [[David Duchovny]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Filed Away (Features)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61070196.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924105921/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61070196.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2018|publisher=London, England|work=The Mirror|date=September 29, 1997|access-date=September 24, 2018|quote=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.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Fantastic Fest: Kevin Sorbo on the Twisted Julia X 3D, Christian Films, and Hollywood Snobbery|url=http://movieline.com/2011/09/28/fantastic-fest-kevin-sorbo-on-the-twisted-julia-x-3d-christian-films-and-hollywood-snobbery/|first=Jen|last=Yamato|access-date=September 24, 2018|work=Movieline|date=September 28, 2011|quote=You were previously up to play roles like Superman and Mulder in The X-Files before your Hercules days.|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625132422/http://movieline.com/2011/09/28/fantastic-fest-kevin-sorbo-on-the-twisted-julia-x-3d-christian-films-and-hollywood-snobbery/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pQIDAQAAQBAJ&q=sorbo+mulder&pg=PA370|title=Science Fiction Television Series, 1990–2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows|first1=Frank|last1=Garcia|first2=Mark|last2=Phillips|date=2013|access-date=September 24, 2018|page=370|publisher=McFarland|via=Google Books|isbn=9780786491834|archive-date=May 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505181431/https://books.google.com/books?id=pQIDAQAAQBAJ&q=sorbo+mulder&pg=PA370|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://actorsorbo.narod.ru/sorbo_eng/kevinroles_eng/roles_loss_eng.htm|title=Winston-Salem Journal|date=August 29, 1997|access-date=September 24, 2018|quote=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.|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924145114/http://actorsorbo.narod.ru/sorbo_eng/kevinroles_eng/roles_loss_eng.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1993, he made his film debut in ''[[Slaughter of the Innocents (film)|Slaughter of the Innocents]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Brooke |date=January 23, 2017 |title=What Happened to Kevin Sorbo – News & Updates |url=https://gazettereview.com/2017/01/happened-kevin-sorbo-news-updates/ |work=Gazette Review |access-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-date=June 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620070834/http://gazettereview.com/2017/01/happened-kevin-sorbo-news-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Professional breakthrough with ''Hercules'', ''Kull'', and other film offers===
In 1993, Sorbo received his breakthrough leading role as the [[ancient greek]] [[demigod]] [[Hercules]] in a series of five [[television films]] that aired as part of [[Universal Television]]'s [[Action Pack (television)|Action Pack]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-06-tv-59138-story.html|title=WITH AN EYE ON ... : Kevin Sorbo's Hercules is strong stuff but not exactly his serious side|first=N. F.|last=MENDOZA|date=November 6, 1994|via=LA Times|access-date=May 6, 2016|archive-date=June 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603130129/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-11-06/news/tv-59138_1_kevin-sorbo|url-status=live}}</ref> The first film to premiere was ''[[Hercules 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 series ''[[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]'', which started airing in [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]] 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.<ref name="scifiw">{{Citation | title = Kevin Sorbo |url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/kevin_sorbo_01.htm | type = interview | work = The sci-fi world | access-date = November 2, 2017 | archive-date = June 25, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625103948/http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/kevin_sorbo_01.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2023}} The show was filmed in [[New Zealand]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1996-08-29 |title=The Rutherford Courier from Smyrna, Tennessee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/675092248/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

The success of the show spawned the popular [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] series ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'' starring [[Lucy Lawless]], who was introduced in a three-episode arc in the first season of ''Hercules''. This allowed several characters from both shows to make [[Crossover (fiction)|crossover]] appearances. In 1998, a spin-off [[direct-to-video]], [[animated]] film titled ''[[Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus]]'' was released with both Sorbo and Lawless voicing the characters.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lenburg |first1=Jeff |title=The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons |date=2009 |publisher=Checkmark Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-8160-6600-1 |edition=3rd |page=317}}</ref>

''Hercules'' was canceled midway through the filming of Season Six, of which only eight episodes were produced. The final episode aired in November 1999.<ref>{{Citation | title = Entertainment | newspaper = The Los Angeles times | date = November 27, 1999 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-27-ca-37888-story.html | access-date = November 2, 2017 | archive-date = December 10, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210153743/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/nov/27/entertainment/ca-37888 | url-status = live }}.</ref> Although it was not revealed at the time, health issues reduced Sorbo's abilities to perform the physically demanding role during the later seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chestang |first=Raphael |date=2011-10-17 |title=Kevin Sorbo Reveals Near-Death Experience |url=https://www.etonline.com/news/115243_Kevin_Sorbo_Reveals_Near_Death_Experience |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Entertainment Tonight}}</ref> Sorbo made his final appearance as Hercules on ''Xena'', 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 film ''[[Kull the Conqueror]]''. The actor was selected for the role in December 1995,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dec 22, 1995, page 46 - The Idaho Statesman at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/916609351/?match=2&terms=%22Kull%20the%20Conqueror%22%20+%20%22griffith%22 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> and the picture was shot in [[Slovakia]] and [[Croatia]] between August and October 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kull the Conqueror |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/324164/kull-the-conqueror#notes |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Turner Classic Movies |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> 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 if ''Kull the Conqueror'' mattered."<ref>{{cite news|title=Kull the Conqueror (1997)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0CE6DE1231F93AA1575BC0A961958260|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 2, 2015|archive-date=October 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011182239/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0CE6DE1231F93AA1575BC0A961958260|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 1997, it was announced that Sorbo would star in ''[[Black Dog (1998 film)|Black Dog]]'' for around $3 million, with [[Kevin Hooks]] slated to direct and produce and the intention to shoot in September during Sorbo's hiatus from ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys''.<ref name="SorboDog">{{cite news |title='Dog' days ahead for Sorbo |url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/dog-days-ahead-for-sorbo-1116676780/ |access-date=January 4, 2022 |publisher=Variety}}</ref> During an interview, Sorbo described the film as "''[[Die Hard]]'' meets [[Speed (1994 film)|''Speed'']]."<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-QrxfSiDDU |title=Kevin Sorbo "Kull the Conqueror" 8/19/97 |date=2023-04-13 |last=The Bobbie Wygant Archive |access-date=2025-01-27 |via=YouTube}}</ref> In September 1997, [[Meat Loaf]] and [[Randy Travis]] were signed to star opposite Sorbo.<ref name="MeatLoafTravisDog">{{cite news |title=Travis, Loaf put on 'Dog' |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/travis-loaf-put-on-dog-1116675172/ |access-date=January 4, 2022 |publisher=Variety}}</ref> However, by November of that year, it was reported that [[Patrick Swayze]] had replaced Sorbo in ''Black Dog''.<ref name="SwayzeDog">{{cite news |title=Spelling's health spells A-OK |url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/spelling-s-health-spells-a-ok-1116676823/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930122358/https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/spelling-s-health-spells-a-ok-1116676823/ |archive-date=September 30, 2022 |access-date=January 4, 2022 |publisher=Variety}}</ref>

===Post-''Hercules'' work===
After ''Hercules'' ended, Sorbo played the starring role of Captain [[Dylan Hunt (Andromeda)|Dylan Hunt]] in the science-fiction drama series ''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]]'' from 2000 to 2005. In 2006, he played a recurring role on the final season of ''[[The O.C.]]''

In 2007, he starred in two [[direct-to-video]] sequels to ''[[Walking Tall (2004 film)|Walking Tall]]'', ''[[Walking Tall: The Payback]]'' and ''[[Walking Tall: Lone Justice]]''. In the [[Hallmark Channel]] film ''[[Avenging Angel (2007 TV film)|Avenging Angel]]'', he co-starred with his real wife, [[Sam Sorbo|Sam Jenkins]].

In 2008, he appeared in the [[parody film|spoof film]] titled'' [[Meet the Spartans]]'', which was a box office success despite poor reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-numbers.com/charts/weekly/2008/20080125.php |title=Weekend Box Office Chart for January 25th, 2008 |publisher=The Numbers |date=January 25, 2008 |access-date=October 18, 2012 |archive-date=May 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510040419/http://www.the-numbers.com/charts/weekly/2008/20080125.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/meet_the_spartans/ |title=Meet the Spartans |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=October 18, 2012 |archive-date=April 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428185954/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/meet_the_spartans/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Kevin Sorbo 03.jpg|right|upright|Sorbo in 2013|thumb]]

In the first of what would be several voice acting jobs, Sorbo performed one of the main protagonists, Prometheus, in the video game ''[[The Conduit]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Conduit Gets Hollywood Voice Talent|work=CINEMABLEND |date=October 14, 2008 |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/The-Conduit-Gets-Hollywood-Voice-Talent-12789.html|publisher=cinema blend|access-date=October 2, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054429/http://www.cinemablend.com/games/The-Conduit-Gets-Hollywood-Voice-Talent-12789.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also reprised the role of Hercules in the video game ''[[God of War III]]'' and worked together with his wife on the game ''[[Cloudberry Kingdom]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Conditt |first=Jessica |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/kevin-sorbo-sam-sorbo-martin-olson-star-in-cloudberry-kingdom/ |title=Kevin Sorbo, Sam Sorbo, Martin Olson star in Cloudberry Kingdom |publisher=Joystiq |date=October 3, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-date=January 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131083125/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/kevin-sorbo-sam-sorbo-martin-olson-star-in-cloudberry-kingdom/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, Sorbo co-starred in ''[[God's Not Dead (film)|God's Not Dead]]'', a [[Christian film industry|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.<ref>{{cite news|title='God's Not Dead' Actor Says Hollywood Is 'Waking Up' to Christian Films|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/gods-not-dead-actor-says-hollywood-is-waking-up-to-christian-films-126565/|access-date=October 2, 2015|publisher=christianpost.com|archive-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826115444/http://www.christianpost.com/news/gods-not-dead-actor-says-hollywood-is-waking-up-to-christian-films-126565/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=God's Not Dead (2014) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=godsnotdead.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812015703/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=godsnotdead.htm |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 14, 2014 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[Amazon.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Farber |first=Stephen |date=March 21, 2014 |title=God's Not Dead: Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/gods-not-dead-film-review-690393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325112944/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/gods-not-dead-film-review-690393 |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=April 26, 2014 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=St. James |first=Emily Todd|date=March 24, 2014 |title=God's Not Dead is a mess even by Christian film standards |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/gods-not-dead-mess-even-christian-film-standards-202571 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401064803/http://www.avclub.com/review/gods-not-dead-mess-even-christian-film-standards-202571 |archive-date=April 1, 2014 |access-date=April 26, 2014 |website=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref>

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Sorbo appeared in the 2015 romantic comedy ''Single in South Beach'', starring [[Haley 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonfiglio |first=Nahila |date=2019-06-21 |title=Kevin Sorbo accused of sexual harassment by former co-star Haley Webb |url=https://www.dailydot.com/irl/kevin-sorbo-sexual-harassment-haley-webb/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-22 |title=Kevin Sorbo accused of sexual harassment by former co-star Haley Webb |url=https://www.avclub.com/kevin-sorbo-accused-of-sexual-harassment-by-former-co-s-1835748741 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}</ref>

In 2017, Sorbo directed and starred in the [[Christian drama]] film ''[[Let There Be Light (2017 film)|Let There Be Light]]'', which featured conservative pundit [[Sean Hannity]], who was also an executive producer. It was described by the ''[[The New Yorker|New Yorker]]'' as "a cynical, xenophobic morality tale, as bitter as it is saccharine" that closes with "a dénouement of bald Islamophobia".<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Blanche |date=October 26, 2017 |title=Kevin Sorbo opens up about new film 'Let There Be Light': 'The world has gotten more evil' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kevin-sorbo-opens-up-about-new-film-let-there-be-light-the-world-has-gotten-more-evil |work=[[Fox News]] |access-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-date=June 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614063102/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kevin-sorbo-opens-up-about-new-film-let-there-be-light-the-world-has-gotten-more-evil |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sean Hannity and Kevin Sorbo's ''Let There Be Light'' Is Pious, Xenophobic Fun for the Whole Family |first=Dan |last=Piepenbring |date=November 4, 2017 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/sean-hannity-and-kevin-sorbos-let-there-be-light-is-pious-xenophobic-fun-for-the-whole-family}}</ref> ''[[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".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-let-there-be-light-review-20171026-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |title=Review: Sean Hannity and Kevin Sorbo join forces in the Christian reckoning drama 'Let There be Light' |date=October 26, 2017 }}</ref>

In 2024, he appeared in the [[Ronald Reagan]] [[Reagan (2024 film)|biopic]] opposite [[Dennis Quaid]], who plays the title role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarty |first=India |date=2022-04-25 |title=Kevin Sorbo Celebrates Upcoming Projects, Including REAGAN Biopic |url=https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/kevin-sorbo-celebrates-upcoming-projects-including-reagan-biopic.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Movieguide {{!}} The Family Guide to Movies & Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref>