Robert Z’Dar, massive character actor and prolific B-movie heavy died on March 30th at the age of 64.
You have seen Robert Z’Dar in movies. I think we all have. If one spends any time at all scouring the corners of ’80s and ’90s cult cinema, it’s like you have seen at least one or two of his films. Instantly recognizable, Z’Dar stood 6’2”, and was marked by a wonderfully massive jaw that made him a striking villain and a formidable screen presence. Joe Estevez, Z’Dar’s co-star in Soultaker and Little Creeps (and others), once said in an interview that Z’Dar’s jaw perhaps got him more work than his ample talent. His jaw was the result of a rare but non-harmful genetic condition called cherubism.
In his early days, Z’Dar played football for Arizona State University, played in a band called Nova Express (which opened for Jefferson Airplane and The Who), wrote commercial jingles, worked briefly as a police officer in Chicago, and even worked as a Chippendale’s dancer before breaking into acting in 1984. He appeared in several notable cult films including Cherry 2000 and Code Name: Zebra before landing what is perhaps his most iconic role, the title character in William Lustig’s Maniac Cop.
Check Out: CraveOnline’s Review of Maniac Cop
In 1989, Z’Dar appeared in the big-budget action comedy Tango & Cash as a disgruntled prisoner who got to fight with Sylvester Stallone. After that, Z’Dar never had a problem finding work, appearing in several films a year from A Gnome Named Gnorm to Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time to Frogtown II. Two of his films – Soultaker and Future War – were featured on later episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Perhaps most notable for the lovers of cult movies was Samurai Cop, a crazy, bad, low-budget actioner from 1991. It’s one of the worst films in the man’s canon, and also one of his best.
Z’Dar was perhaps one of the gamest actors imaginable. His career is full of low-budget, strange, awful, wonderful exploitation movies, action cheapies, and Z-grade horror. And yet Z’Dar, ever the professional, sold his roles without a wink. If he was playing a villain in any film, he was going to adhere to his integrity, and play the part best he could. He never looked bored or tired or embarrassed. He always looked energetic, tough, and often like he was having a great time. He is quoted as loving villains, and he has correctly pointed out that villains are always much more interesting characters than heroes. They can be boisterous and insane.
At the time of his death, Z’Dar was working on Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance, perhaps one of the weirdest reunion projects ever put together. Z’Dar was never one to rest on his laurels, frequently attending conventions and speaking to fans. In 2014 alone, he acted in six films. The only time his output slowed was in 2002, when a back injury forced him to walk with a cane for four years. He ended up recovering fully, and continued to work. On Monday night, Z’Dar suffered from chest pains at a convention. He was on the mend at a hospital when a heart attack took his life.
Rest in peace, Mr. Z’Dar. Thanks for so many awesome, awesome performances. Tonight we drink to you.
Witney Seibold is a contributor to the CraveOnline Film Channel, and co-host of The B-Movies Podcast. You can follow him on “Twitter” at @WitneySeibold, where he is slowly losing his mind.
