Tapert, Robert G. 1955(?)-

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TAPERT, Robert G. 1955(?)-

PERSONAL: Born c. 1955; married Lucy Lawless (an actress), March 28, 1998; children: Julius Robert Bay.

CAREER: Producer and director. Producer of television series, including M.A.N.T.I.S., Fox, beginning 1994; (with Sam Raimi; and creator) Xena: Warrior Princess, syndicated, 1995-2001; (with Raimi) Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, syndicated, 1995-99; Spy Game, beginning 1997; (with Raimi) Jack of All Trades, beginning 2000; and (with Raimi) Cleopatra 2525, syndicated, 2000-01. Executive producer of made-for-television movies, including Hercules and the Circle of Fire, 1994; Hercules and the Amazon Women, 1994; Hercules in the Underworld, syndicated, 1994; Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur, syndicated, 1994; and Hercules and the Lost Kingdom, syndicated, 1994. Also executive producer of M.A.N.T. I.S. (pilot), 1994; and American Gothic, Columbia Broadcasting System, 1995. Director of television episodes, including "Once a Hero," Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, syndicated, c. 1996; "Destiny," Xena: Warrior Princess, syndicated, c. 1996. Appeared in television episodes, including (uncredited; as crowd member) "Gladiator," Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, syndicated, 1995; and (as himself) "The Xena Scrolls," Xena: Warrior Princess, syndicated, 1997. Executive producer of films, including (and producer) The Evil Dead, New Line Cinema, 1982; Lunatics: A Love Story, RCA Home Video, 1991; Hard Target, Universal, 1993; Darkman II: The Return of Durant, Universal, 1994; The Quick and the Dead, TriStar, 1995; Darkman III: Die Darkman Die, MCA Home Entertainment, 1996; Hercules and Xena—The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus, Universal Pictures Home Video, 1998; and Young Hercules, MCA Home Entertainment, 1998. Producer of films, inclduing (creited as Rip Tapert) Within the Woods (short film), 1978; Crimewave (also known as Broken Hearts and Noses and The XYZ Murders), Columbia/Embassy, 1985; Evil Dead II, Rosebud Releasing/Rosebud Communications Releasing, 1987; Darkman, Universal, 1990; Army of Darkness), Universal, 1993; Timecop, Universal, 1994; and The Gift, Paramount Classics, 2000. Actor in films, including Cleveland Smith, 1982; and (uncredited, as local yokel) The Evil Dead, New Line Cinema, 1982.

WRITINGS:

Young Hercules (screenplay), MCA Home Entertainment, 1998.

Some episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess are based on stories by Tapert.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

books

Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Volume 36, Gale (Detroit, MI), 2001.

periodicals

Entertainment Weekly, November 24, 1995, Ken Tucker, review of Xena: Warrior Princess, pp. 85-86.

New York Post, November 23, 2001, "Pregnant Star: I'll Be Xena Later," p. 111.

Sunday Mail (Adelaide, South Australia, Australia), March 1, 1998, review of Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, p. A12.

Variety, January 24, 1994, Adam Sandler, review of Mantis, p. 69.

Whoosh!, January, 2001, Bret Ryan Rudnick, "An Interview with Robert Tapert."