We outsiders lost another one of our own this week.
Robert Z’Dar, best known for portraying the title character in the limb blastingly fun Maniac Cop series, died on March 30th at the age of 64. The sadness we feel should be potent. For just like Richard Kiel, who passed away this fall, Z’Dar taught us all that one’s physicality (and even one’s supposed abnormalities) should never get in the way of achieving a dream.
Indeed, Z’Dar never let cherubism, the condition that enlarged his jaw line; stop him from leading an eclectic existence, which included stints as a Chicago police officer and even a Chippendale’s dancer. It was as a movie heavy, though, where Z’Dar truly made his mark, a fact that seemed to please him. He often stated that he found villains more interesting to play than average run-of-the-mill citizens.
…and talk about some villains! Besides the Maniac Cop films, Z’Dar’s juicy terror activities included such projects as Hellhole, Grotesque, The Night Stalker (which is noted for leading Z’Dar to the role of Matt Cordell in MC), Evil Altar and Soultaker. While his activity in that field was especially relevant in those 80s and 90s offerings, he also found a creative home in such recent, indie horror offerings as Drawing Blood and The Rockville Slayer, as well.
So, thanks Robert, for opening us moviegoers up to a world of fantastic possibilities. Your legacy shall live on in celluloid blood forever!
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
Big Gay Horror Fan 