Robert Z'Dar

April 1, 2015 10:02 AM

Robert J. Zdarsky, known to cult-film fans everywhere as Robert Z'Dar, has died at age 64. A hard-working actor who had been making steady appearances on TV and film since 1985, Z'Dar is best known -- depending on who you ask -- as the titular Maniac Cop, from his appearance in Samurai Cop, or from the movies that appeared on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

An informal interview posted on YT in 2012, in which he mentions that he was once a Chippendale dancer, and had a "stripping telegram" company. He is rambling and friendly, with lots of very, well, Californian medical advice.

(According to his Wikipedia biography, Z'Dar's distinctive appearance was the result of cherubism.)

posted by Countess Elena (27 comments total)

I'll always remember him for Return to Frogtown, a movie that confused and entertained twelve year old me in equal parts.

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posted by stirred for a bird at 10:07 AM on April 1, 2015

Oh Z'No!
posted by The Whelk at 10:09 AM on April 1, 2015 [5 favorites]

He finally took a ride on the Soultaker.

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posted by a lungful of dragon at 10:17 AM on April 1, 2015 [3 favorites]

A . for Robert Z'Dar, and a second . for Robert Z'Dar's face.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:17 AM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

No one really dies on April Fool's Day.
posted by mr.curmudgeon at 10:17 AM on April 1, 2015

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posted by Smart Dalek at 10:22 AM on April 1, 2015

I saw Robert Z'Dar about 15 years ago at the Chicago Comic Con. He was crossing the convention floor on his way to a panel or signing or whatever, and for some reason he was dressed like a 1920s gangster, in a dark pin-striped suit, white spats, and pencil-thin mustache, a really natty, old-timey look. But he made it work!
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:26 AM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

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posted by brundlefly at 10:33 AM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Sadly, the Maniac Cop (2) Rap is not true to life for Robert:

Bullets don't hurt him, I know it should like jive
But were not sure if he's dead or alive

Set him on fire, I shoot him with an uzi, but he'll show up in your jacuzzi
You can run him over, you can feed him poison
Push him out of a window and it only annoys him

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posted by filthy light thief at 10:48 AM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

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posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:18 AM on April 1, 2015

"There's a piece of Cordell in every cop. Every time arresting some mutt isn't enough, because we know they'll be back on the streets before we even do the paperwork. Every time we pull a trigger and it feels good, because no lawyers can reverse that. It all comes down to justice and pressure. There's only that much difference between a cop and a maniac cop."
posted by tiger yang at 11:25 AM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Z'dar looks over to Joe Estevez -
"Man, that guy has a small head"

rip, big man.

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posted by lkc at 12:03 PM on April 1, 2015 [4 favorites]

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posted by LobsterMitten at 12:15 PM on April 1, 2015

I loved his scene in Tango and Cash because he made me realize Tango and Cash were assholes.
posted by zinc saucier at 12:36 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

He played Theseus in sci-fi writer S.P. Somtow's film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1994's Ill Met by Moonlight. That was among the weirdest and most rewarding transformations of an actor I can remember. RIP.
posted by goatdog at 12:36 PM on April 1, 2015

Tango and Cash is such an odd movie.
posted by brundlefly at 12:40 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

"TAAAANNNNGGOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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posted by The Card Cheat at 1:58 PM on April 1, 2015

Aww, I've always had a soft spot for Robert Z'Dar, doubly so since I recently learned that a family friend was responsible for writing the screenplay for Future War.

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posted by Diagonalize at 3:42 PM on April 1, 2015 [3 favorites]

WHAT
posted by The Whelk at 3:48 PM on April 1, 2015

I settle in to watch some MST3K, as one does. "A run-away human slave from Earth's future escapes to the present" in Future War! Yeah, sure, why not? Rubber dinosaurs? Check! Robert Z'Dar? Check! Cut-rate Jean-Claude Van Damme wannabe? Check! But it's an inexplicable 15 or 20 minutes into the movie before the opening credits roll, which is when I spy "Story by Dom Magwili" flashing across the screen. Wait, Dom Magwili?

Confusion races through my mind, thinking back to the time Dom lead our annual holiday party through a terrifically cheesy Hawaiian-themed rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas." No, that can't possibly be right, but he is an actor, so maybe, just maybe...a quick trip to IMDB five minutes later confirms my hopes/fears that yes, there is, in fact, only one Dom Magwili.

I've never asked him about it, but I'm guessing there's a 50-50 chance he'll either be deeply embarrassed about it or will reminisce at length about how it was the greatest goddamn accomplishment of his life.
posted by Diagonalize at 4:12 PM on April 1, 2015 [7 favorites]

What in the world could you be waiting for? We must know!
posted by JHarris at 5:25 PM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

Aw, sad news. R.I.P.
posted by TheClonusHorror at 6:55 PM on April 1, 2015

MetaFilter: There is, in fact, only one Dom Magwili
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:12 AM on April 2, 2015

Wait: you're saying FutureWar had a script?
posted by rock swoon has no past at 2:17 AM on April 2, 2015 [1 favorite]

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posted by heatvision at 3:19 AM on April 2, 2015

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posted by Mezentian at 4:10 AM on April 2, 2015

I met him at a World Horror Con, where he ruled a panel by manic energy and the sheer weirdness of his head. Lots of fun.

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posted by doctornemo at 10:31 AM on April 2, 2015 [1 favorite]