Actor Robert Z’Dar Dead at 64

Hollywood is just a trash bin full of chiseled bone structure. Aaron Eckardt, Ben Affleck, and of course Michael Douglas and his dad Kirk are all known for their strong jawlines. But cult actor Robert Z’Dar made those guys look like pikers with his mammoth chin, which he exploited to perfection with a string of nasty villain roles that were B-movie heaven. A Chicago native, Z’Dar is probably best know for starring as Matt Cordell in a trio of MANIAC COP films between 1988 and 1993, but his imposing mug graced over 121 films over the past 30 years.

Those credits include such gems as HELLHOLE, BEASTMASTER 2, TANGO AND CASH (he played “Face”), and the amazing SAMURAI COP (he was filming the belated sequel to that one when he died). Z’Dar was a staple of the horror convention circuit and was a genuinely nice guy. He was apparently attending one of the cons in Florida over the weekend when he was rushed to the hospital. I’m unsure the exact cause of death, but he was 64 and will be missed by his many fans.

From USA Today:

“Actor Robert Z’Dar, the massive man with the gigantic chin best known for the cult film series Maniac Cop, died Monday night in Pensacola after being hospitalized when he came to town to appear at Pensacon, according to his long-time manager and friend Jim Decker. He was 64. Born Robert J. Zdarsky in Chicago, the 6-foot-2 actor was featured in more than 121 films, including cult classics like the first three Maniac Cop films, Soultaker, The Final Sanction and Samurai Cop (the sequel to which Z’Dar had been set to join immediately after Pensacon). He also enjoyed roles in mainstream hits such as Tango & Cash and TV roles on Growing Pains and the 1990 series The Flash……”

Read the rest HERE