Remembering Robert Trebor: A Versatile Performer Passes Away
Robert Trebor, an accomplished actor renowned for his roles as a serial killer in a CBS telefilm and the duplicitous merchant Salmoneus in the cult classic series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, has sadly passed away at the age of 71.
A Life Cut Short
Trebor died on March 11 at the Los Angeles Medical Center due to sepsis, as confirmed by his wife, Deirdre Hennings. He had battled leukemia since 2012 and underwent a stem cell transplant a year later.
Film and Television Contributions
The talented character actor’s filmography includes a variety of memorable roles in notable films such as John Frankenheimer’s 52 Pickup (1986), Susan Seidelman’s Making Mr. Right (1987), and Oliver Stone’s Talk Radio (1988). His final film appearance was in the Coen brothers’ Hail, Caesar (2016), in which he portrayed a movie producer.
In a significant career year, 1985, Trebor gained recognition for his diverse performances, including a role as a reporter in Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo, a copy boy in Bob Clark’s Turk 182, and hauntingly, as David Berkowitz in the TV movie Out of the Darkness. This film also featured Martin Sheen as the detective who pursued the notorious killer who plagued New York City in the 1970s.
The Duality of Performance
Reflecting on his experience playing Berkowitz, Trebor described the role as both “emotionally and physically draining.” In a 2003 interview, he shared how juggling the intense demands of that role alongside the comedic elements of his off-Broadway play The Crate Those often led to grueling 18-hour workdays.
Trebor’s tenure as the comic relief, Salmoneus, began in the 1994 telefilm Hercules and the Lost Kingdom, and he continued to delight audiences in 20 episodes throughout the first five seasons from 1995-1999. His character’s journey, often motivated by material gain, led him to appear in crossovers with Xena for several episodes as well.
Initially contracted for only two episodes, Trebor’s character became a fan favorite. He remarked on Salmoneus’ complexity, explaining that his character was earnest in his attempts to be good, despite his mercantile instincts conflicting with noble intentions. “I never saw him as a thief,” Trebor stated in a 2001 interview, emphasizing the naïve nature of his character.
A Diverse Career
Beyond his acting career, Trebor also directed an episode of Hercules in 1997 and made numerous appearances at fan conventions worldwide. His popularity extended beyond the screen; he even had an action figure modeled after his character, albeit less muscular than Hercules himself.
MCA Television/Courtesy Everett Collection
Early Life and Legacy
Born Robert Alan Schenkman in Philadelphia on June 7, 1953, Trebor was the son of Gerald, who supplied goods for the U.S. Army, and Edith, a homemaker. His artistic inclinations were evident early on, as he composed music and directed short films while also contributing reviews to Scholastic.
His acting debut came in 1980 with the film Gorp, set at a Jewish summer camp. Interestingly, he chose his stage name, Trebor, as a palindrome and to differentiate himself from his classmate Robert Schenkkan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.
Recent Endeavors and Personal Life
His film credits also include appearances in The Shadow (1994) and Jiminy Glick in Lalawood (2004), along with guest roles on various television shows like Miami Vice, Murphy Brown, and Night Court.
In 2013, Trebor became one of the inaugural artists-in-residence at Santa Monica’s The Braid, formerly known as the Jewish Women’s Theatre. Most recently, he featured in the 2023 production Stories From the Violins of Hope, where he portrayed Israeli luthier Amnon Weinstein, bringing attention to the stories of musicians lost during the Holocaust. This project was notably presented at the United Nations.
Trebor and Hennings’ love story began in a business class at the New School in New York and culminated with their marriage in a hospital after his leukemia diagnosis in 2012.
Honoring His Memory
In honor of Robert Trebor, donations can be made to The Braid, which is establishing a scholarship fund in his name, or to the Leukemia Research Foundation.
Furthermore, Trebor authored two books: Dear Salmoneus: The World’s First Guide to Love and Money (1999) and the satirical novel The Haircut Who Would Be King (2019), exploring themes reminiscent of current political figures. His thoughts on the intersections of performance and societal observations are encapsulated in an interview where he likened aspects of his character to contemporary figures in power, illustrating the duality of charm and deception.
Robert Trebor’s legacy will endure through both his diverse roles on screen and stage, as well as his contributions to arts and culture.