Who Was Robert Trebor? Exploring the Life and Legacy of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Actor Amid His Death at 71

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71-year-old Robert Trebor, renowned for his roles as Salmoneus in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, and David Berkowitz in Out of the Darkness, has passed away. Although the details of his death, including location and date, were not provided in his Legacy.com obituary, it is known that he had faced complications from a stem-cell transplant for leukemia in previous years.

As a Philadelphia-born native on June 7, 1953, my acting journey commenced with minor roles in films such as Gorp, Turk 182, and Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo during the 1980s. However, it was in 1985 that I truly made a name for myself by portraying the notorious David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam” killer, opposite Martin Sheen in the CBS television movie Out of the Darkness, marking a significant turning point in my career.

After this achievement, Trebor gained prominence in various films during the late ’80s and early ’90s. Some of these films include “52 Pickup” (1986) with Roy Scheider and Ann-Margret, “Making Mr. Right” (1987), Oliver Stone’s “Talk Radio” (1988), and Roland Emmerich’s “Universal Soldier” (1992). His television roles were equally notable, with guest appearances on popular shows such as “Miami Vice”, “Murphy Brown”, “Baywatch”, “Night Court”, and “Tales from the Crypt”.

In 1995, Trebor gained significant recognition for his portrayal of Salmoneus, a charming and shrewd salesman, in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys featuring Kevin Sorbo. Over the course of five seasons, he starred in almost two dozen episodes, and in one episode, he also played a different character, B.S. Hollingsfoffer. Later on, Trebor reprised his beloved character Salmoneus in several episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess alongside Lucy Lawless.

Towards the end of his professional journey, Trebor remained active in movies including Dying on the Edge, Jiminy Glick in Lalawood, Meet Market, The Devil’s Rejects, and made his swan song as a producer in the 2016 Coen brothers’ production, Hail, Caesar!, featuring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, and Scarlett Johansson.

Apart from his screen performances, Trebor was a highly esteemed theater actor in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, eventually being designated one of the inaugural Artists-in-Residence at The Braid in Los Angeles. Additionally, he was an accomplished author, writing “Dear Salmoneus: The World’s First Guide to Love and Money” and the satirical political work “The Haircut Who Would Be King,” which focused on Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Robert Trebor, known for his captivating performances on TV, movies, and stage, has left an indelible mark. He is mourned by his wife of 43 years, Deirdre Hennings. To celebrate his life and accomplishments, donations can be made to The Braid, setting up a scholarship in his honor, or to The Leukemia Research Foundation. His dynamic career and lively spirit will live on in the hearts of fans and peers alike.

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2025-04-05 10:22