Kevin Smith....ARES GOD OF WAR

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This page is dedicated to Mr. Kevin Tod Smith, the talented New Zealand actor best known as 'Ares' and 'Iphicles' on the TV shows Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, and Young Hercules. Kevin does an excellent job of portraying the God of War and bringing to life an awesome villian on Xena: Warrior Princess.

Just to start off so everyone knows, I am a huge Ares Fan and, he is my favourite character (apart from Xena), for his acting abilities, and of course his looks..*DROOL!* I have liked Kevin ever since I saw him In an Australian Mini-series called Mcleod's Daughters, about 7 years ago.(If i can find a piccy of him in it online, I'll post it here.)

Born in Auckland, where he spent his early childhood, Kevin moved with his family to the small rural town of Timaru in New Zealand's South Island when he was 11. During high school, he began playing in rock-and-roll bands, but never aspired to a career as an actor. He had a passion for rugby and his dream was to play for the All Blacks, New Zealand's world-famous rugby team. Kevin has won international recognition and fan fame for his portrayal of Ares, the malevolent god of war, in the hit syndicated series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess.

Ares, the God of War is a important character to the show, played by Kevin Smith . Ares, who migrates freely between Xena and Hercules, tormenting both, but with a sexual lust for Xena. He basically is always plotting to turn Xena from Warrior Princess to Warrior Queen. But surprisingly enough he is not always so bad, as was shown when he lost his godhood for a while.

Ares is always looking to find the one warrior who will lead the world into peace and prosperity. Namely Xena, by any means possible, he will try almost anything. After helping Hope & Dahak in Sacrifice, season 3 finale, Ares wasn't seen again till the finale of season 4, but he is back again for a few eps in season 5, his hair goes from normal to loooong, to short.!

In Greek mythology, Ares, the son of ZEUS and brother of ERIS, was the god of war. Although he was not greatly admired among the Olympian gods, he was loved by APHRODITE, by whom he became the father of several children.

At 17, Smith moved to Christchurch and worked at various jobs to pay the rent before enrolling in Canterbury University at the age of 20. He married his childhood sweetheart, Sue, and stumbled into acting literally by accident when he suffered a concussion playing college rugby in 1987. He was forced to sit on the sidelines for nearly three weeks and during that period, Sue saw a casting call ad for the touring company of Are You Lonesome Tonight, the musical tribute to Elvis Presley, and signed Kevin up for an audition. He landed the part of one of the bodyguards and was understudy to the lead.

One of New Zealand's most popular and accomplished actors, Smith has amassed an impressive list of credits in film, theater and television. He has enjoyed starring roles in such hit series as TV New Zealand's Gloss, Marlin Bay and Shortland Street and has performed in dozens of stage productions ranging from Othello to A Streetcar Named Desire, Cabaret, Glengarry Glen Ross and Into the Woods. His feature film credits include the stylistic turn-of-the century drama Desperate Remedies, which earned international attention at Cannes and other European film festivals.

Kevin has also played in a number of alternative rock bands in New Zealand and he is currently one of the lead singers of The Wide Lapels, a local band which has inspired rave reviews and a devoted following for its camp renderings of the worst songs of the '70s -- songs like Take a Letter, Maria, Tell Laura I Love Her and Billy, Don't be a Hero -- which qualify for the group's repertoire on the basis of having bad lyrics that don't get better with time.

At 24, Kevin was tapped by Christchurch's Court Theater to become the company's new young leading man and he spent the next three years performing on stage. While starring as Stanley in the company's production of A Streetcar Named Desire, he auditioned for the producers of New Zealand's hit primetime soap opera Gloss, won the role of handsome scoundrel Demian Vermeer and moved to Auckland to star in the series' final season. Next he was cast as the "archetypal Kiwi bloke" on the sketch comedy series Away Laughing.

Smith went on to perform in the Mercury Theatre productions of Let's Do It, Rose Tattoo, Ladies Night and Fallen Angels before starring as another bad boy in the primetime drama Marlin Bay. His role on the show lasted two seasons and earned him a 1995 New Zealand Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. Since then, he has recurred as Ares in more than two dozen episodes of Hercules and Xena. He has also made several appearances in Hercules as thedemigod's mortal half-brother, Iphicles.

Xena episodes-Playing Ares, God of War:
Fifth season Xena:
"Chakram"
"Succession"
"Seeds of Faith"
"God Fearing Child"
"Eternal Bonds"
"Amphipolis Under Seige"

Fourth season Xena:
"Deja Vu All Over Again"

Third season Xena:
"The Furies"
"Dirty Half Dozen"
"The Deliverer"
"The Quill is Mightier..."
"Bitter Suite"
"Forget Me Not"
"Sacrifice I"
"Sacrifice II"

Second season Xena:
"Intimate Stranger"
"Ten Little Warlords"
"The Xena Scrolls"

First season Xena:
"The Reckoning"
"Ties that Bind"

This Page Last Updated On 22nd March 2000
Disclaimer
No photos of Kevin Smith were fondled, caressed, kissed or drooled on during the making of this website ....ok almost none.
Disclaimer courtesy of NX