In Memoriam
Name: Kevin Tod Smith |
Born in Auckland,
where he spent his early childhood, Kevin moved with his family 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 to pay the rent 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.
At 24, Kevin was
tapped by Christchurch's Court Theater to become the company's new young
leading man and he spent the next three years performing on stage. While
starring as Stanley in the company's production of A Streetcar Named Desire,
he auditioned for the producers of New Zealand's hit primetime soap opera
Gloss, won the role of handsome scoundrel Demian Vermeer and moved to
Auckland to star in the series' final season. Next he was cast as the
"archetypal Kiwi bloke" on the sketch comedy series Away Laughing. Smith
went on to perform in the Mercury Theatre productions of Let's Do It, Rose
Tattoo, Ladies Night and Fallen Angels before starring as another bad boy in
the primetime drama Marlin Bay. His role on the show lasted two seasons and
earned him a 1995 New Zealand Film and Television Award for Best Supporting
Actor. Since then, he has recurred as Ares in more than two dozen episodes of Hercules and Xena. He has also made several appearances in Hercules as the demigod's mortal half-brother, Iphicles. Kevin and Sue currently make their home in Auckland and are the proud parents of three young boys. Notice to all concerned.
Copyright © 2002 Kevin Smith Foundation. All Rights Reserved |