 | ||||||
| ||||||
Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith was set to work on Tears Of The Sun (a Bruce Willis film) before his untimely death in 2002. Many people believed this would be his big break into Hollywood.
"Pain's just nature's way of saying, 'Hey, you're alive!.'"
-- Ares (Kevin Smith)
in "Forget Me Not"
Kevin Tod Smith
16 March 1963, Auckland, New Zealand
15 February 2002, Beijing, China
| ||||||
He was born in Auckland, New Zealand and spent his early childhood there. His family moved to the small rural town of Timaru in New Zealand's South Island when he was 11. During high school, he began playing in rock-and-roll bands, but never aspired to a career as an actor. He had a passion for rugby and his dream was to play for the All Blacks, New Zealand's world-famous rugby team. At 17, Smith moved to Christchurch and worked at various jobs before enrolling in Canterbury University at the age of 20. He married his childhood sweetheart, Sue, and stumbled into acting literally by accident when he suffered a concussion playing college rugby in 1987. He was forced to sit on the sidelines for nearly three weeks and during that period, Sue saw a casting call ad for the touring company of Are You Lonesome Tonight, the musical tribute to Elvis Presley, and signed Kevin up for an audition. He landed the part of one of the bodyguards and was understudy to the lead. He played in a number of alternative rock bands in New Zealand, including being one of the lead singers of The Wide Lapels, a local band which inspired rave reviews and a devoted following for its camp renderings of the worst songs of the '70s -- songs like Take a Letter, Maria, Tell Laura I Love Her and Billy, Don't be a Hero -- which qualify for the group's repertoire on the basis of having bad lyrics that don't get better with time. Kevin and his wife Sue resided in Auckland. They had three sons together: Oscar, Tyrone and Willard.
Kevin died in Beijing, China after suffering a severe head injury in a fall. He had just finished work on Warriors of Virtue: The Return to Tao (2002) at Beijing Film Studio. Kevin was eager to work on the film because of the opportunity to work with a stuntman from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) (a.k.a. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"). Kevin was injured on February 6, 2002, the day after he had finished work on the film. Some sources have said that he fell from a height possibly as great as six storeys. His injuries were critical and he was put on life-support. He passed away 10 days later in his sleep. His wife Suzanne, and parents Geoff and Yvonne were with him. At the time of his death, he left 3 sons: Oscar, 11, Tyrone, 9, and Willard, 3. In March 2002 he was due to begin filming in Hawaii for the action film Tears of the Sun (2003) (which at the time was known as "Man of War") starring Bruce Willis. This would have been his first role in a major Hollywood film and could have finally put him on the US movie map. Kevin was an extremely popular attraction at numerous Xena/Hercules conventions in the US. He was extremely talented and an accomplished singer and musician.
After his death, fellow actor Michael Hurst said of Kevin, "He came at things with such vigour that it was impossible not to go with him wherever he had decided to take you. He ate life, and loved the taste."
Kevin sings the theme song for the NZ TV show Serial Killers, which was produced about a year after his death.
Kevin was a big rugby fan, and supported Canterbury. But his favorite team was the All Blacks, and he was superstitious about them, having rituals that he would perform to insure victory, and would never drink in a pub again if his team lost while he was in it!
Kevin was wearing a fake beard in the Xena: Warrior Princess episode "The Reckoning", and he couldn't move his face much for fear that it would fall off.
Kevin was asked about kissing Xena: Warrior Princess co-star Lucy Lawless while her husband was standing there watching, and he said that it was much worse when her baby was watching! Kissing her in front of her husband Robert Tapert wasn't too bad, he said, because Rob was the one who produced and sometimes even wrote and/or directed the show.
Kevin was injured while filming an episode of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. He had to do a spinning kick, and the dagger medallion he wore whipped around and stabbed him in the corner of his eye in the tear duct. After that his medallions were made of soft plastic or rubber for fight scenes.
Kevin was interested in drama in high school, and subsequently in 1979 he was in a drama club.
Kevin had a cameo role in the New Zealand drama City Life. He played the owner of an apartment building who was having a homosexual affair with one of his tenants (played by Charles Mesure) on the night before his wedding. His character was killed off in an auto accident in the first episode. The onscreen kiss between Kevin and Charles was the subject of some furore, and the large drop-off of viewers in the first five minutes of the show was attributed to the kiss.
There are yearly comedic debates in Auckland, and Kevin took part a number of times. Kevin was on the Affirmative Team for the "Great Debate" asking the question, "Is sex the most important part of the relationship?" His teammates were Ginette McDonald, and Anna Kennedy. The Negative Team were Craig Parker, Oliver Driver, and Rebecca Hobbs. Unfortunately, his team lost the debate, which was judged by the audience.
Before his death, Kevin was cast as Frankenfurter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Joel Tobeck took over the role in his place, and the entire cast dedicated the production to him.
At the October 1999 San Francsico Creation Con Kevin told his fans that he cut his hair because he was finding it difficult to go after some other acting roles credibly with his hair being so long.
Kevin got to be quite good friends with Claire Stansfield (Alti) in spite of never appearing in any episodes with her on Xena: Warrior Princess. They met at a Xena convention and became instant friends.
Kevin and Adrienne Wilkinson (Eve) performed together at the cabaret show for a Xena: Warrior Princess convention. Their duet? Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe."
The first time Adrienne Wilkinson met Kevin was for the read-through for the Xena: Warrior Princess episode "Livia". He said, "Hi, I'm Kevin Smith" and she replied, "Hi, I'm really scared of you," since she knew that they had a fighting scene together. He laughed and said, "Don't worry. Every girl on this show kicks my ass routinely."
Kevin was in the movie Desperate Remedies with Michael Hurst, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Lisa Chappell before he got the part of Ares.
Renee O'Connor told Kevin she was pregnant with her son Miles before the rest of the crew on Xena: Warrior Princess, as well as most of her longtime friends back in the US. She did so because she and Kevin had bonded by talking about his boys.
Kevin used to do Theater Sports, an improv show like Whose Line Is It Anyway?, with Lucy Lawless.
Kevin has had roles as three of Hercules' half brothers. His most famous, Ares, God of War. Also on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, he played Hercules' half brother who was a mortal, Iphicles. He also played another one of Hercules' half brothers, Bacchus, on Young Hercules.
Kevin stated that playing in a theater production of Othello in the title role was the role he was most proud of. Michael Hurst cast and directed him in the role. He also directed him in Cabaret, where Kevin played the role of Cliff.
Kevin was in a band with fellow Xena: Warrior Princess, and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys actor, Joel Tobeck.
Kevin was 6'3" tall.
Kevin appeared in 30 episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess, as Ares, God of War.
Kevin appeared in 24 episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. He played three different roles on the show. His most famous was Ares, God of War. He also played Hercules' mortal half brother, Iphicles, and Jerry Patrick Brown.
Kevin was part of the Christchurch's Court Theater.
Kevin's first acting job was in 1987. He had the role of a bodyguard in his school's play of Are You Lonesome Tonight, which was a tribute to Elvis Presley.
Kevin attended Canterbury University.
Kevin married his wife, Sue, in 1986. She was his high school sweetheart.
Kevin attended the Timaru Boys High School.
Kevin was in rock bands while in high school.
Kevin was eager to work on what would be his last movie Warriors of Virtue: The Return to Tao (2002) because he would get the chance to work with stuntman Wo hu cang long (2000) (a.k.a. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon").
Kevin's father, Geoff, is a white New Zealander and Kevin's mother, Yvonne, is Tongan.
Kevin got into acting by stumling on a casting call while he was injured for a while from playing rugby.
Kevin portrayed the role of the God of War, Ares, on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess and Young Hercules.
Kevin just finished work on the movie Warriors of Virtue 2: The return to Toa, in which he portrayed Dogon, the bad guy, when he had a fall that caused severe head injuries and that eventually meant his death.
Kevin Smith had a wife (Sue) and three sons (Oscar, Tyrone, and Willard) until his untimely death in 2002.
Kevin Smiths nickname was "Smithy".
Kevin Smith was a very likable and fun loving man, he simply loved having a laugh with friends! He's been quoted as being the life and soul of a party!
Kevin Smith was a very talented singer and could also play a few instruments.
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
