"Hercules" star passes away at the age of 71

Los Angeles - The American actor Robert Trebor, known from the popular series Hercules, has died at the age of 71.

As his wife Deirdre Hennings told theHollywood Reporter, the 71-year-old succumbed to sepsis at Los Angeles Medical Center on March 11.

He had previously been battling leukemia since 2012.

The actor began his career at the theater in New York before his breakthrough in 1985.

In that year, he appeared in three films: In Woody Allen's "The Purple Rose of Cairo", in Bob Clark's "Turk 182" and as a serial killer in "Out of the Darkness".

However, Robert Trebor became particularly famous in the 1990s for his role as the cunning merchant Samoneus in the cult series "Hercules" and "Xena - The Warrior Princess".

The popularity of his role even led to the production of an action figure of him. He also took part in numerous fan meetings around the world .