'Hercules' actor Kevin Sorbo: 'Completely blacklisted' for being Christian in Hollywood

Anna Lee | The Greenville News

Hollywood is not kind to Christian actors like Kevin Sorbo, he said.

“I’ve been completely blacklisted,” Sorbo said.

The actor, producer and director is probably best known for his role as Hercules in the popular 1990s television show “Hercules: The Incredible Journeys.” About 10 years ago, Sorbo said he decided to go public with his faith. He was raised in a religious family and had always been a Christian; he just didn't wear it on his sleeve.

“My wife warned me. She said, ‘This is going to hurt your career,'’’ Sorbo said Tuesday night at a reception in Greenville.

Looking back, he thinks she was right.

Sorbo spoke to The Greenville News briefly before appearing on stage for a fundraising event to benefit the Christian Learning Centers of Greenville County.

“If it wasn’t for faith-based or independent movies, I wouldn’t have a career anymore,” Sorbo said. “I gave them 12 years of two TV shows — one being the most watched show in the world. And (Hollywood) just said, 'Nope.'"

“Hercules: The Incredible Journeys” ran for six seasons and was one of the most highly rated syndicated TV shows at the time. The final episode aired in 1999.

Besides playing the strongest man in the world, Sorbo was also cast as the leading role in “Kull the Conqueror," his first big-budget film, in 1997.

He starred as Captain Dylan Hunt in the science-fiction series “Andromeda” from 2000 to 2005 before appearing in recurring roles on “The O.C.” and “Two and a Half Men.”

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These days Sorbo is acting in and producing his own Christian movies. The most recent, “Let There Be Light," is a story about faith, family and hope.

“This is the kind of uplifting movie that Hollywood used to make," Sorbo said. "People want more movies like this, and that’s why I want to keep making movies that deliver a positive message."

Janice Butler, the executive director of Christian Learning Centers, is a fan.

“He’s reaching millions and millions of people and really touching their hearts,” Butler said. “We need more Christian actors, directors, producers out there so that young people and people in the world period can hear more about God’s message.”

Christian Learning Centers of Greenville County provides biblical instruction to public-school students through the Released Time Christian education program. South Carolina passed the Released Time Credit Act in 2006 to allow students who receive parental permission to engage in off-campus devotional study for school credits.