Robert Z'Dar
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Zdarsky better known as Robert Z’Dar, is an American actor
and film producer
, perhaps best known for his role as Matt Cordell in the cult horror film Maniac Cop
and its two sequels. Due to his unusual facial structure, he is often referred to as "The Chin".
, Illinois
, Z'Dar is 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
where he received a BFA
. After graduation, Z'Dar returned to Chicago, for a time, where he was employed as a police officer
.
Z’Dar has appeared in at least one film a year, including: The Night Stalker (1987), The Killing Game
(1988), and Dead End City (1988) and Marching out of Time
(1993) directed by Anton Vassil
. Z’Dar's name became recognizable when he played Matt Cordell in 1988’s Maniac Cop
, a film about a maniac in an NYPD cop uniform who brutally murders people. Z'Dar repeated this role in both of its sequels (1990 and 1993).
It was perhaps Z’Dar’s performance in Maniac Cop that landed him the role of "Face" in 1989’s Tango and Cash alongside action stars Sylvester Stallone
and Kurt Russell
. In 1991, he shared the screen with F. Murray Abraham
, Christian Slater
, and Lara Flynn Boyle
in Mobsters
.
Robert Z’Dar has continued making at least one film every year despite a serious back injury he suffered in 2002 on a movie set. In 2005, he had a scene stealing
role as a loveable thief in the independent film Spaced Out
which was released by Ariztical Entertainment in 2009. As of January 2006 he has acted in seventy-six films, produced three films, and also appeared on television. Two of Z’Dar’s films, Soultaker
and Future War
appeared in season 10 of Mystery Science Theater 3000
.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, perhaps best known for his role as Matt Cordell in the cult horror film Maniac Cop
Maniac Cop
Maniac Cop is a 1988 action/horror film directed by William Lustig and written by Larry Cohen. The film spawned two sequels, Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence .-Synopsis:...
and its two sequels. Due to his unusual facial structure, he is often referred to as "The Chin".
Early life
Born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Z'Dar is of Lithuanian
Lithuanians
Lithuanians are the Baltic ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,765,600 people. Another million or more make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Russia, United Kingdom and Ireland. Their native language...
descent. He first started acting while attending Proviso West High School
Proviso West High School
Proviso West High School is a public high school located in Hillside, Illinois, United States. Proviso West is a part of Proviso Township High Schools District 209, and was opened in 1958. Its sister school is Proviso East High School....
in Hillside, Illinois
Hillside, Illinois
Hillside is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,155 at the 2000 census.One notable landmark in Hillside is the Mount Carmel Cemetery. On the grounds of the cemetery are the graves of a number of organized crime figures, such as Al Capone and Dion O'Bannion...
. After high school, Z’Dar attended Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
where he received a BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
. After graduation, Z'Dar returned to Chicago, for a time, where he was employed as a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
.
Acting career
Eventually Z’Dar made his move to Hollywood, California to pursue a career in acting. In 1984, Z’Dar appeared in his first feature film, Joe Tornatore’s Code Name Zebra, a film about a band of ex-soldiers forming an international anti-crime unit.Z’Dar has appeared in at least one film a year, including: The Night Stalker (1987), The Killing Game
The Killing Game
"The Killing Game" is a two-part episode of Star Trek: Voyager, the 18th and 19th episodes of the fourth season. A Hirogen hunting party has taken over Voyager and put its crew to work as living holodeck characters. Their minds are controlled by neural interfaces which make them believe they are...
(1988), and Dead End City (1988) and Marching out of Time
Marching out of Time
Marching out of Time is a Film Feature directed by Anton Vassil. PG, 90 Min, 35mm, 1994Marching out of Time is a family comedy.-Plot:When a wacky squadron of WWII soldiers are mistakenly teleported to present day California, Fred must convince the police and his family that he is not losing his...
(1993) directed by Anton Vassil
Anton Vassil
Anton Vassil is a screenwriter/film director who worked on various feature films, music videos, commercials and documentaries. With a Master's degree from Loyola Marymount University film school, Vassil directed his first feature Marching out of Time and went on to direct a series of films and...
. Z’Dar's name became recognizable when he played Matt Cordell in 1988’s Maniac Cop
Maniac Cop
Maniac Cop is a 1988 action/horror film directed by William Lustig and written by Larry Cohen. The film spawned two sequels, Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence .-Synopsis:...
, a film about a maniac in an NYPD cop uniform who brutally murders people. Z'Dar repeated this role in both of its sequels (1990 and 1993).
It was perhaps Z’Dar’s performance in Maniac Cop that landed him the role of "Face" in 1989’s Tango and Cash alongside action stars Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
and Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell
Kurt Vogel Russell is an American television and film actor. His first acting roles were as a child in television series, including a lead role in the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters...
. In 1991, he shared the screen with F. Murray Abraham
F. Murray Abraham
Fahrid Murray Abraham is an American actor. He became known during the 1980s after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus. He has appeared in many roles, both leading and supporting, in films such as All the President's Men and Scarface...
, Christian Slater
Christian Slater
Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor. He made his film debut with a small role in The Postman Always Rings Twice before playing a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean...
, and Lara Flynn Boyle
Lara Flynn Boyle
Lara Flynn Boyle is an American film and television actress best known for her performances as Laura Palmer's best friend Donna Hayward in Twin Peaks and Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble in The Practice...
in Mobsters
Mobsters
Mobsters is a 1991 crime-drama film detailing the creation of the The Commission. Set in New York City, taking place from 1917 to 1931, it is a semi-fictitious account of the rise of Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel.-Plot:This highly dramatized...
.
Robert Z’Dar has continued making at least one film every year despite a serious back injury he suffered in 2002 on a movie set. In 2005, he had a scene stealing
Scene stealer
A scene stealer is a character in a film or dramatic performance that dominates the audience's attention, often through charisma, humour or powerful acting, thus "stealing the scene" or "stealing the show". The term usually applies to a supporting character, such a sidekick, best friend,...
role as a loveable thief in the independent film Spaced Out
Spaced Out (film)
Spaced Out is a sci-fi comedy feature directed by Scott Grenke. It was premiered in Chicago in 2006 and distributed by Ariztical Entertainment in 2009. It stars James Vallo and features appearances by Babette Bombshell, Butch Patrick, Robert Z'Dar, Fred Williamson, Larry Thomas, and many others...
which was released by Ariztical Entertainment in 2009. As of January 2006 he has acted in seventy-six films, produced three films, and also appeared on television. Two of Z’Dar’s films, Soultaker
Soultaker (film)
Soultaker is a 1990 fantasy horror film starring Vivian Schilling, Joe Estevez, and Robert Z'Dar. The film was featured on an episode of movie-mocking TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000. However, despite the negative reception, it won a Saturn Award in 1992 for Best Genre Video Release...
and Future War
Future War
Future War is a 1997 direct-to-video American science fiction film about an escaped human slave fleeing his cyborg masters and seeking refuge on Earth. It was lampooned in a 1999 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.- Plot :...
appeared in season 10 of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
.