Robert Trebor, known for his role as the merchant Salmoneus in the 1990s series “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” and “Xena: Warrior Princess,” has died at 71.
Trebor died on March 11, 2025, at Los Angeles Medical Center, California, due to sepsis, as confirmed by his wife of 43 years, Deirdre Hennings. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012 and underwent a stem-cell transplant in 2013, facing subsequent side effects.
His online obituary notes, “Mr. Trebor’s talent, humor, energy and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by all who knew him, most especially by his wife.”
Born Robert Alan Schenkman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1953, he chose the stage name “Trebor” by reversing his first name to stand out from a college classmate while studying theater at Northwestern University. Early in his career, Trebor performed at New York City’s Ensemble Studio Theater, appearing in Shel Silverstein’s plays.
Trebor’s breakthrough role was in 1985 as serial killer David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam,” in CBS’s “Out of the Darkness,” acting alongside Martin Sheen and Héctor Elizondo. His early filmography includes “52 Pick-Up” (1986), “My Demon Lover” (1987), “Making Mr. Right” (1987), and Oliver Stone’s “Talk Radio” (1988).
His role as Salmoneus earned him the most recognition, first appearing in the 1994 telefilm “Hercules and the Lost Kingdom” and continuing throughout all five seasons of “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” from 1995 to 1999. He also appeared in four episodes of “Xena: Warrior Princess” between 1996 and 1999.
In a 2001 interview with The Voyageur, Trebor discussed his portrayal of Salmoneus, saying, “I never saw him as a thief. [Bruce Campbell’s] Autolycus was the thief. I never saw him as a con man either, although I could understand why other people could.” He described his character as an overly eager person who often overlooked important details and relied on his quick wit and smooth talking to make a living when not working as a farmer or a warrior.
The character’s popularity led to Trebor being featured as an action figure and frequently attending fan conventions globally. His versatility allowed him to demonstrate both comedic and dramatic skills over his four-decade career.
Besides “Hercules” and “Xena,” Trebor’s career included roles in films like “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” “Turk 182,” and “The Devil’s Rejects.” His television work extended to series like “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” and “Tales from the Crypt.” His final film role was in the Coen Brothers’ 2016 satire “Hail, Caesar!” featuring George Clooney and Josh Brolin.
Trebor was also an author, publishing two books: “Dear Salmoneus: The World’s First Guide to Love and Money” (1999) and the political satire “The Haircut Who Would Be King” (2019).
In 2013, Trebor was named one of the first Artists-in-Residence at The Braid (formerly the Jewish Women’s Theatre) in Los Angeles, where a scholarship fund in his memory is being established.
Trebor is survived by his wife, Deirdre Hennings, with whom he shared over four decades of marriage.