A tragic death and 'blacklisted' by Hollywood: Where's the cast of Xena and Hercules now?

Any fans of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess in the house? Please raise your hand.

Hello! Welcome. They sure don't make shows like these anymore, do they? I think that's what old people say, and that's okay because let's face it, we're much older now than we were back then.

After all Hercules began in 1995 and ended in 1999. Spin-off Xena ran from 1995 to 2001 and arguably outstripped Hercules in terms of popularity and its place in pop culture.

Watch the opening credits for Xena: Warrior Princess. Story continues below.

It has been 24 years since Hercules hung up his sword, and 22 years since Xena's last battle cry. So where is the cast of these two iconic shows now?

Lucy Lawless (Xena).

Lucy Lawless. 

Lawless first appeared as fearsome warrior princess Xena in the TV show Hercules. Her character was meant to die at the end of her episode arc, but audiences and critics loved her and the studio was looking to create a spin-off. It was fate – Xena: The Warrior Princess was born.

Since the final episode of the show aired 22 years ago in 2001, Lawless has kept busy. She has starred in numerous television shows, notably Battlestar Galactica, Spartacus, Parks and Recreation, Salem, Ash vs. Evil Dead, and My Life is Murder (for Network 10 here in Australia).

She has also fulfilled her musical aspirations, appearing in stage productions such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Chicago. Remember that episode of Xena where they all sang? Yeah, that was really Lawless singing. Is there anything she can't do?

Speaking to Stellar magazine in 2019, Lawless said: "If I'm typecast as a 'strong woman' for the rest of my life, then I’ve got all the right problems."

Kevin Sorbo (Hercules).

Kevin Sorbo.

Things were initially going smoothly for Sorbo after Hercules' run ended in 1999: he immediately picked up the lead role in sci-fi series Andromeda, which ran from 2000-2005. He multiple in numerous TV shows and TV movies in the lead up to 2009 – then things changed.

According to Sorbo, after going public with his faith (he is a devout Christian), he was blacklisted in Hollywood. 

"If it wasn't for faith-based or independent movies, I wouldn't have a career anymore. I gave them 12 years of two TV shows – one being the most-watched show in the world. And [Hollywood] just said, 'Nope'," the actor told Greenville News.

"I've been told that I'm too 'controversial' to work with. I've been told that I'm not 'marketable' because of my faith," he told Encounter Today. "It's frustrating because all I want to do is act and entertain, but my beliefs seem to be getting in the way."

These days you'll find Sorbo in predominantly faith-based movies that he also produces.

Renée O'Connor (Gabrielle).

Renee O'Connor.

Gabrielle was my favourite character on Xena. Starting off as a mere sidekick who was bookish but brave, Gabrielle came into her own as the series progressed. By the end, she was an equal to Xena, and the pair were basically married. Both Lawless and O'Connor have said they view their characters as being together romantically.

After the show wrapped up, O'Connor kept a relatively low profile. She has starred in a number of low-budget films over the years and found a passion for the stage, with roles in productions like Annie, Mary Poppins, and Romeo and Juliet.

The talented actor started her own production company in 2002 and recently reunited with Lawless for an episode on My Life is Murder.

Reunited and it feels so good! Image: Network 10.

Ted Raimi (Joxer).

Ted Raimi.

Before stealing our hearts as the silly but kind Joxer, Raimi starred in popular drama series Seaquest DSV. Like Lawless, he first appeared in Hercules, before becoming a fixture in the world of Xena.

There has been no shortage of roles for the accomplished actor, with appearances in Spiderman, The Grudge, Drag Me To Hell, Oz the Great and Powerful, and Ash vs Evil Dead (where he reunited with both Lawless and Bruce Campbell).

Raimi is the younger brother of Sam Raimi, who was the executive producer for both Xena and Hercules and is of course a legendary filmmaker.

Kevin Smith (Ares).

Kevin Smith.

As the smouldering god of war Ares, Smith certainly caused fluttering hearts (yes, including mine). He appeared in numerous episodes of Hercules, Xena, and Young Hercules, which starred Ryan Gosling in the lead role – do you remember that?

After Xena ended in 2001, he took on the role of Dogon in 2002 martial arts fantasy film Warriors of Virtue 2: Return to Tao. Tragically, while shooting in China, Smith fell and died later from his injuries. He was only 38 years old.

Both Warriors of Virtue 2 and a film he had completed called Riverworld were released posthumously. 

Bruce Campbell (Autolycus).

Bruce Campbell.

Campbell is arguably the most well-known cast member of Hercules and Xena. He's certainly been around the longest! The actor's first role was in 1972, but it was 1981's Evil Dead that catapulted him to fame.

He starred in several TV shows and movies, including the criminally underrated The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., Burn Notice, Spiderman, Oz the Great and Powerful, Jack of All Trades, and Ash vs. Evil Dead. Not forgetting that cameo on Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.

Michael Hurst (Iolaus).

Michael Hurst.

What would Hercules have been like without trusty sidekick Iolaus providing all the comedy? BORING, that's what. Hurst's Iolaus provided the much-needed heart of the campy drama.

Since then, the actor has starred in a range of TV shows, like New Zealand's long-running soapie Shortland Street, Maddigan's Quest, and The Adventures of Voopa the Goolash.

Over the years Hurst has turned his hand to directing. He reunited with Campbell and Lawless (Lawless's character Xena was actually romantically involved with Iolaus first on Hercules) after directing episodes of Ash vs. Evil Dead, Spartacus, and My Life is Murder.

I love that most of the cast have reunited on shows over the years and that they're still friends. It warms the cockles of my (old) heart.

Feature image: Renaissance Pictures.