Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith born Kevin Todd Smith on March 16 1963 in Auckland New Zealand was an actor best known for his role as Ares in the television series Hercules The Legendary Journeys He developed an interest in acting at a young age and pursued a career in the entertainment industry Smiths breakthrough came when he was cast as the mischievous and manipulative god of war Ares in Hercules The Legendary Journeys which aired from 1995 to 1999 His portrayal of Ares made him a fan favorite and he became a recurring character in the series Smiths onscreen chemistry with Kevin Sorbo who played the lead role of Hercules contributed to the shows success Outside of his work on Hercules Smith also made appearances as Ares in the spinoff series Xena Warrior Princess and in the madefortelevision movies based on both shows His portrayal of Ares showcased his talent for balancing charm charisma and villainous tendencies making him a memorable presence in the world of Greek mythologythemed television Tragically Kevin Smiths life was cut short when he suffered a fatal fall during a film production in China on February 15 2002 at the age of 38 His untimely death was mourned by fans and colleagues alike as he had left an indelible mark on the Hercules and Xena franchises with his memorable performance as Ares