Robert Z'Dar

Robert James Zdarsky (June 3, 1950 – March 30, 2015), better known by his stage name Robert Z'Dar, was an American character actor and film producer, best known for his role as officer Matt Cordell in the cult slasher film Maniac Cop and its two sequels, as well as appearances in Tango & Cash (1989) and Samurai Cop (1991).

Z'Dar worked mainly in low-budget B movies and direct-to-video features, but occasionally in mainstream Hollywood films and television. Due to his cherubism, a medical condition resulting in an enlarged jawline, Z'dar had a unique and easily recognizable look, which aided his career as he usually portrayed villains.

A prolific actor, Z'Dar appeared in 121 films over the course of his 39-year career. Z'Dar was of Lithuanian descent. He first started acting while attending Proviso West High School in Hillside, Illinois. After high school, Z'Dar attended Arizona State University Z'Dar reprised his role in the 1990 sequel and Badge of Silence (1993).

It was perhaps Z'Dar's performance in Maniac Cop that landed him the role of "Face" in 1989's Tango & Cash, alongside action stars Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell. He went on to appear in films such as Killing American Style (1988), The Final Sanction, A Gnome Named Gnorm (both 1990), Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time, Mobsters, Samurai Cop (all 1991), Return to Frogtown, Marching Out of Time (both 1993), Death from Above (2011), Meltdown (2009), and Easter Sunday (2014).

Robert Z'Dar appeared in more than 121 films and television episodes, with at least one film appearance per year in 27 of the last 29 years of his career (missing only 1986 and 2001).

In 2012, he was inducted to International Indie Filmmakers Hall of Fame at The Indie Gathering film festival.

Death While appearing at Pensacon in Pensacola, Florida, Z'Dar was hospitalized for chest pains. He seemed to recover, but subsequently went into cardiac arrest and died on March 30, 2015 at the age of 64, one month after his hospitalization. He had previously battled throat cancer, and heart failure.

Selected filmography Year Title Role Notes 1987 The Night Stalker Chuck Sommers 1988 Cherry 2000 Chet 1988 Maniac Cop Officer Matt Cordell / The Maniac Cop 1988 Killing American Style Tony Stone 1988 Grotesque Eric 1989 Tango & Cash "Face" 1990 The Final Sanction Sergeant Sergei Schvackov 1990 Maniac Cop 2 Officer Matt Cordell / The Maniac Cop 1990 Soultaker Angel of Death 1990 A Gnome Named Gnorm Reggie 1991 Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time Zavic 1991 Samurai Cop Yamashita Direct-to-video 1991 The Killer's Edge Rocco Credited as "Blood Money" 1991 The Big Sweat Troudou Direct-to-video 1992 The Legend of Wolf Mountain Jocko Painter Credited as "Bankrobber" 1992 Shadow of the Dragon Captain Washington 1992 Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence Officer Matt Cordell / The Maniac Cop 1993 Return to Frogtown Sam Hell 1994 Cyberkidz Zeist 1996 Red Line Gene 1997 Guns of El Chupacabra Z-Man Lord Invader Direct-to-video 1997 Future War Cyborg Master 1997 Pocket Ninjas Cobra Khan 1999 Tyrone "Assface" 2004 Super Hell Granny Bob Direct-to-video 2009 Meltdown Eddie "Crazy Eddie" 2014 Easter Sunday Easter Bunny / Serial Killer Direct-to-video 2015 A Blood Story Gerry "The Jaw" Posthumous release 2016 Chasing Gold Roger Gleason 2019 High on the Hog The Mayor 2020 Spring Fever Roth "Chile" DeVille