If you spent any time watching TV in the late '90s, you knew that face. High cheekbones, a leather-clad swagger, and a smirk that suggested he knew exactly how much trouble he was about to cause. Kevin Smith—the New Zealand actor, not the "Clerks" director—didn't just play Ares on Xena: Warrior Princess; he basically redefined what a TV villain could be. He was charming. He was dangerous. Most of all, he was human, even when he was playing an immortal.
But then, just as he was on the verge of a massive Hollywood breakout alongside Bruce Willis, it all stopped.
The story of Kevin Smith is one of those "what if" tales that still hurts to talk about in fan circles. He wasn't supposed to be an actor. He was a rugby player who stumbled onto a stage because of a concussion. Seriously. That’s how the journey of the most iconic God of War began.
How a Rugby Injury Created a God
Kevin Smith wasn't one of those kids who grew up dreaming of the limelight. Born in Auckland in 1963, he was a guy's guy. He played rugby, he loved rock and roll, and he was actually quite a talented painter. He moved to Timaru when he was eleven, and for a long time, the plan was simple: play hard, maybe join the police force, and live a quiet life with his high school sweetheart, Sue.
Then came 1987.
During a university rugby match, Kevin took a nasty hit to the head. While he was sitting on the sidelines recovering from a concussion, Sue saw an ad for a touring musical tribute to Elvis Presley called Are You Lonesome Tonight. She signed him up. To everyone's surprise—probably including his own—he got the part.
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He didn't start as the lead; he was an understudy and played a bodyguard. But the bug bit him. He spent the next few years grinding in regional theater, doing everything from Shakespeare to A Streetcar Named Desire. By the time he landed the role of the "scoundrel" Damian Vermeer on the NZ soap Gloss, he was already a veteran of the stage. He had this incredible range that allowed him to play a "Kiwi bloke" in sketch comedy and then turn around and win a Best Supporting Actor award for the 1994 film Desperate Remedies.
The Ares Era: Kevin Smith and Xena
When people search for Kevin Smith actor Xena, they’re usually looking for that specific chemistry he had with Lucy Lawless. It was electric. Originally, he appeared on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys as Iphicles, Hercules’ half-brother. But when the producers saw him, they knew they had found their Ares.
He ended up playing the God of War across three different shows at the same time: Hercules, Xena, and Young Hercules. Think about that for a second. In the late '90s, if you turned on a TV for some mythological action, Kevin Smith was probably on it.
Why his Ares worked
Most villains are one-note. They want to conquer the world because they’re "evil." Kevin's Ares was different. He didn't want to just destroy humanity; he was a "working stiff" who just happened to have the power of a god. He famously described the character as a guy who goes home after a hard day at the office and puts in a copy of Terms of Endearment.
He brought a vulnerability to Ares that made the "God of War" actually relatable. He wanted Xena's respect as much as he wanted her soul. That’s why the fans loved him. He wasn't a monster; he was a guy in love with the wrong woman, stuck in a job that required him to be a jerk.
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The Tragic Accident in China
The most heartbreaking part of Kevin's story is the timing. In early 2002, he had just finished filming a martial arts movie in China called Warriors of Virtue: The Return to Tao. He was about to fly to the U.S. to start work on a big-budget action film called Man of War (later retitled Tears of the Sun) starring Bruce Willis. This was it. This was his "in" to the Hollywood A-list.
On February 6, 2002, after a celebration with the film crew in Shijiazhuang, Kevin decided to walk around the studio grounds while waiting for his ride. He climbed a prop tower on a different movie set—something he had probably done a thousand times on the Xena sets.
He lost his footing.
He fell three stories, sustaining massive head injuries. He was rushed to a local hospital and then transferred to Beijing, but he never regained consciousness. He was on life support for ten days before passing away on February 15, 2002. He was only 38 years old.
Clearing Up the Confusion
Honestly, even decades later, people still get him confused with the other Kevin Smith. You know, the "Silent Bob" guy. It's a common mistake, but they couldn't have been more different in their careers. Our Kevin Smith was the 6'2" powerhouse from New Zealand who could sing like Elvis and fight like a god.
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There's also often confusion about how he died. You’ll see rumors online about "on-set accidents" or "stunt mishaps." To be clear: the work was finished. The accident happened during a moment of downtime. It was a fluke. A tragic, random moment of bad luck that took away one of the most promising talents of his generation.
The Legacy He Left Behind
Kevin Smith didn't just leave behind a filmography; he left a massive hole in the New Zealand acting community. More than a thousand people attended his memorial service in Auckland. His co-stars, like Lucy Lawless and Bruce Campbell, have always spoken about him with a level of genuine affection that you don't always see in Hollywood. He was "Kev"—the guy who remembered your name even if he’d only met you once for two seconds at a convention.
What to watch to remember him:
- Xena: Warrior Princess (Obviously): Look for the episode "The Bitter Suite." You get to hear him sing, and man, he had pipes.
- Desperate Remedies: If you want to see his range beyond the leather pants, this is the one. It’s campy, weird, and brilliant.
- Lawless: He played a private investigator in these TV movies. It shows the leading-man potential he had before he passed.
If you're a fan of the "Xenaverse," the best way to honor his memory is to keep the community alive. Kevin loved his fans. He didn't see himself as a celebrity; he saw himself as a dad who got lucky with a cool job.
To really dive into his work, don't just stop at the "God of War" clips on YouTube. Look for the interviews where his Kiwi accent comes through. Listen to him talk about his three sons, Oscar, Tyrone, and Willard. That's where you see the real man. He was a mortal who played a god, but in the eyes of his fans and family, he was something much better than an immortal—he was a good man.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the documentary Remembering Kev: A Tribute to Kevin Smith. It’s a deep look into his life from the people who actually knew him.
- If you're feeling nostalgic, revisit the Young Hercules series. Most people skip it, but Kevin’s performance as a slightly younger, more arrogant Ares is top-tier.
- Support the New Zealand film industry. Kevin was a huge proponent of local talent, and the "Kiwi" acting scene wouldn't be what it is today without the trail he blazed.