Kevin Sorbo
The actor who defined televised muscle-bound heroism in the 1990s, swinging a sword as Hercules and piloting a starship.
Born 1958 (age 68)·American actor·Birthday: September 24·Baby Boomers
Biography
Kevin Sorbo’s journey from Minnesota model to international television star is a tale of seizing a very specific kind of opportunity. After finding early work in commercials and small acting roles, his physique and commanding presence landed him the title role in 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.' The show, a syndicated action-fantasy, became a global phenomenon, making Sorbo’s grinning, leather-clad demigod a household name and a symbol of 90s pop culture. During production, he survived a series of strokes that temporarily blinded him and affected his mobility, a health crisis he has since spoken openly about. After 'Hercules,' he aimed for the stars, literally, commanding the gene-spliced starship *Andromeda Ascendant* in the sci-fi series 'Andromeda.' In later years, Sorbo has focused largely on faith-based and conservative-leaning film projects, becoming a prominent figure in that genre. His career reflects a deliberate pivot from mainstream action hero to a voice for a particular audience, maintaining a loyal fanbase built on his earlier, more universally appealing work.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Kevin was born in 1958, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1971Became a teenager
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Could drive
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 60
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 68 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as the title character in the globally successful television series 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.'
- Headlined the science fiction series 'Andromeda' for five seasons, based on concepts by Gene Roddenberry.
- Built a second career as a leading actor in numerous independent and faith-based films.
- Authored the book 'True Strength,' detailing his recovery from a series of strokes.
Did You Know?
He was a successful print and commercial model before his acting breakthrough, appearing in ads for brands like Lee Jeans.
Sorbo is an avid golfer with a single-digit handicap.
He is a vocal Christian and has produced documentaries on biblical topics.
The actor who played his sidekick Iolaus on 'Hercules,' Michael Hurst, actually directed more episodes of the series than he appeared in.
““I’m not Hercules. I just played him on TV.””
