Editing Kevin Sorbo (section)

===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>