Actor Robert Trebor, best known for Son of Sam in a CBS telefilm and Salmoneus in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, died on March 11 at Los Angeles Medical Center of Sepsis at 71. His death was confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by Dierdre Hennings. Although the cause of death was not revealed, the actor was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2012 and had a stem-cell transplant in 2013, as per Hennings.
Robert was born on June 7, 1953, in Philadelphia and began his acting career with small roles in films like Turk 182, Gorp, and Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo in the 1980s.
Trebor gained recognition with his breakout role as Son of Sam killed David Berkowitz in the CBS television film Out of the Darkness in 1985. In a 2003 interview, Trebor noted that playing Berkowitz was "emotionally and physically draining" since he was doing it as a day job while working in broad comedy in the off-Broadway play The Crate Those in the Nighttime.
Following the CBS film, Robert Trebor appeared in notable films throughout the late 1980s and early 90s, including 52 Pickup, Talk Radio, and Universal Soldier. Trebor also made guest appearances on television shows like Miami Vice, Murphy Brown, Baywatch, Night Court, and Tales from the Crypt.
More about Robert Trebor's career
Robert Trebor led an illustrious acting career and was best known for portraying Salmoneus in the 1994 film Hercules and the Lost Kingdom, along with 20 episodes of the series' first five seasons.
He also played the same role in the sister series Xena alongside Lucy Lawless and appeared in four episodes from 1996-1999. In a 2001 interview, Trebor noted that he was scheduled to play the role in only two episodes originally, but the producers decided to continue.
Trending
"The arc for Salmoneus is to try to be a good person, but his essential mercantile instincts kept interfering with that. I never saw him as a thief. Autolycus was the thief. I never saw him as a con man either, although I could understand why other people could. He was just a very enthusiastic guy who didn't read the fine print and needed to make a living when he wasn't a farmer or fighter. He lived by his glib tongue."
In 2013, Robert Trebor was named one of the first artists-in-residence at Santa Monica's The Braid. Trebor is survived by Deirdre Hennings.
Love movies? Try our Box Office Game and Movie Grid Game to test your film knowledge and have some fun!
Reply
