You remember the late 90s, right? It was that specific window where Jerry Bruckheimer was basically the king of Hollywood, and every TV network wanted a piece of that high-octane, slow-motion-explosion magic. That’s exactly how we got Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (later rebranded as SOF: Special Ops Force). Honestly, looking back at the soldier of fortune cast, it’s kind of wild to see who was in that lineup. You had legitimate action stars, a future Chicago Fire lead, and—in one of the strangest casting pivots in TV history—Dennis Rodman.
But for a show that had the Bruckheimer polish and a massive syndicated push, it sort of vanished. It wasn't just another military procedural; it was an attempt to bring The Rock or Con Air energy to your living room every Saturday night.
The Original Lineup: Who Were These Mercenaries?
When the show kicked off in 1997, the roster was stacked with actors who looked like they were carved out of granite. Brad Johnson led the pack as Major Matthew Quentin Shepherd. If you were a movie buff in the 90s, you knew Johnson from Flight of the Intruder or Spielberg’s Always. He had that classic, stoic "leader of men" vibe that anchored the whole "unofficial government missions" premise.
Then you had Melinda Clarke as Margo Vincent. Long before she was the scheming Julie Cooper on The O.C. or a dominatrix on CSI, she was the team's tactical expert. She didn't just play the "token woman" role; Margo was arguably the toughest person on the screen.
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The rest of the core soldier of fortune cast in that first season included:
- Tim Abell as Benny Ray Riddle. Fun fact: Abell was actually a real-life Army Ranger, which is why his weapon handling looked way more authentic than your average TV actor.
- Mark Sheppard as C.J. Yates. Most fans know him now as Crowley from Supernatural, but back then, he was the team's British demolitions and electronics guy.
- Réal Andrews as Jason "Chance" Walker. He brought the "cool under pressure" energy, playing the pilot and CQB specialist.
- David Selby as Xavier Trout. He was the mysterious government liaison, the guy in the suit who gave them the "deniable" orders.
The Dennis Rodman Era: A Risky Pivot
By the time Season 2 rolled around, things got... weird. The show was renamed SOF: Special Ops Force, and the tone shifted. The producers wanted it to be "hipper" and more accessible to a younger crowd. That’s when they brought in the heavy hitters—or at least, the big names.
Enter Dennis Rodman as Deacon "Deke" Reynolds. It’s hard to explain to people who weren't there just how famous Rodman was in 1998. He was still playing for the Bulls, he was wrestling in the WCW, and he was a constant tabloid fixture. Adding him to the soldier of fortune cast was a massive gamble. Deke was supposed to be this flamboyant but lethal operative, but the reality of filming was a nightmare. Since Rodman was still an active NBA player, they often had to shoot around his schedule or use body doubles.
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Alongside Rodman, they added David Eigenberg as Nick Delvecchio. Most people today know him as Christopher Herrmann on Chicago Fire or Steve from Sex and the City. In SOF, he was the "undercover guy" and the comic relief. While Eigenberg is a fantastic actor, the shift from the gritty, tactical feel of Season 1 to the more "buddy-action" vibe of Season 2 didn't sit well with the core audience.
Why the Cast Couldn't Save the Show
Despite the star power, the show was canceled after two seasons. Why? Well, the fans of the original Soldier of Fortune, Inc. felt betrayed by the Season 2 overhaul. Mark Sheppard and Réal Andrews were gone—their characters written off as having moved to Hawaii to start a business—and the focus moved away from military realism toward over-the-top spectacle.
There’s also the syndication factor. In the late 90s, syndicated shows lived and died by their local time slots. If your local station moved SOF from 8 PM on Saturday to 2 AM on Tuesday, the ratings tanked.
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Where is the cast now?
It’s interesting to see where everyone landed. Brad Johnson unfortunately passed away in 2022, but he left behind a legacy of being one of the last true "cowboy" actors of his era. Melinda Clarke and Mark Sheppard became icons in the sci-fi and teen drama worlds. Tim Abell stayed very active in the veteran community and continued acting in gritty indie military films.
The soldier of fortune cast was essentially a snapshot of 90s action tropes. You had the stoic hero, the femme fatale, the tech nerd, and the wild card. It was a formula that worked until they tried to fix what wasn't broken.
What You Can Do Next
If you’re feeling nostalgic for some 90s tactical action, tracking down the series is a bit of a challenge since it hasn't hit major streaming platforms like Netflix or Max. However, you can often find old DVD sets or "gray market" copies on eBay. If you want to see the cast in their prime, check out Melinda Clarke in Nikita or Mark Sheppard’s iconic run in Supernatural—you can clearly see the DNA of their SOF characters in those later, more famous roles.