By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-04-05 14:05:53 | Updated at 2025-04-06 05:40:39
15 hours ago
Robert Trebor, the actor best known for his role as the merchant Salmoneus in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, has died at the age of 71.
Trebor passed away on March 11 at Los Angeles Medical Center from sepsis, his wife Deirdre Hennings confirmed.
The news of his death was shared on Friday, nearly a month after his passing. He is survived by his wife Deirdre, who shared the news of his passing with The Hollywood Reporter.
Trebor had been battling leukemia since being diagnosed in 2012 and underwent a stem-cell transplant the following year.
Robert Trebor has died aged 71
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Born Robert Alan Schenkman in Philadelphia on June 7, 1953, Trebor was one of two children to Gerald, who procured supplies for the US Army, and Edith, a homemaker.
As a child, he composed music, directed short films and wrote reviews for Scholastic magazine.
After graduating from Northwestern University in 1975, he moved to New York to pursue acting.
A highlight of Trebor's early career came in 1985 when he portrayed serial killer David Berkowitz, known as the Son of Sam, in CBS's Out of the Darkness alongside Martin Sheen.
Trebor later described the role as "emotionally and physically draining," especially as he was performing comedy on stage at night, sometimes working 18-hour days.
Trebor is famed for his performance as Salmoneus is Hercules
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The character actor gained global recognition in the 1990s for his portrayal of the materialistic but well-meaning merchant in the popular fantasy adventure series.
Trebor portrayed Salmoneus in the 1994 syndicated telefilm Hercules and the Lost Kingdom before appearing in 20 episodes of the Kevin Sorbo-starring series from 1995-99.
He also starred alongside Lucy Lawless in Xena: Warrior Princess for four episodes between 1996 and 1999. Originally hired for just two episodes, producers quickly decided to keep him as a regular after his scene stealing portrayal resonated with audiences.
In 1997, Trebor would return to direct an episode of Hercules in 1997.
His film credits included appearances in Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo, John Frankenheimer's 52 Pickup, Oliver Stone's Talk Radio, and the Coen brothers' Hail, Caesar! in 2016 - which became his final onscreen role.
He also made guest appearances on numerous television shows including Miami Vice, Night Court, and Baywatch.
In later life, Trebor was named an artist-in-residence at The Braid, formerly the Jewish Women's Theatre, in Santa Monica.
Trebor had taken up writing in later life
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In 2023, he appeared in "Stories From the Violins of Hope," playing Israeli luthier Amnon Weinstein who restored Holocaust-era violins.
Trebor also turned to writing, publishing "Dear Salmoneus: The World's First Guide to Love and Money" in 1999.
His 2019 satirical novel "The Haircut Who Would Be King" followed the fictional characters "Donald Rump" and "Vladimir Poutine" from childhood to their presidencies.
"I believe in many ways, Trump is the intersection of psychopath and salesman," Trebor said in an interview about the book.
