Actor Kevin smith (Ares from Xena) dies

[Wolf!]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Feb. 15) - A New Zealand actor who played the leather-clad, bicep-bulging God of War, Ares, opposite Xena in the television series "Xena: Warrior Princess" has died in China after a fall.

Kevin Smith, 38, died in hospital late Friday from head injuries he suffered in Beijing, where he had been working on a film production, the NZ government said in a statement.

Smith played Xena's love interest in the fantasy drama based loosely on ancient mythology, which ended filming in New Zealand last year after being broadcast in more than 100 countries.

The NZ government paid tribute to Smith, saying he was "known not only for his enormous talent and amazing beauty, but also for his intelligence and self-effacing humor." The New Zealand Herald reported Smith's next role was to have been in a Bruce Willis movie, "Man of War," to begin filming in Hawaii next month.

00:43 02-16-02

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[Fallon]

More sad news:

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- San Diego Padres outfielder Mike Darr was killed in a one-car accident early Friday, leaving his teammates stunned and saddened just hours before the team was set to open spring training.

Darr, 25, and another passenger, Duane Johnson, were killed when Darr's car rolled over on a highway in Phoenix near the team's spring training camp.

``It's just a real tragedy,'' said former teammate Tony Gwynn, an eight-time NL batting champion who retired from the Padres after last season. ``He had two little boys he loved to death. It's real hard.''

Authorities said Darr was driving and alcohol appeared to be a factor in the accident, which occurred at 2 a.m. MST (4 a.m. EST).

``We've lost a special teammate, a special person,'' Padres relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman said, choking back tears. ``There are a lot of heavy hearts in the locker room. There's a lot of shock in the clubhouse right now. ... You don't want to believe it.''

Johnson, 23, of Reno, Nev., and Darr were longtime friends dating to their childhood, and Darr lived with the Johnson family at one time in Reno, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Ben Howard, a 23-year-old pitcher who played for San Diego's Class-A and Double-A affiliates last season, was treated at the scene for scrapes and bruises and released, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Frank Valenzuela said.

Howard ``was conscious throughout everything, and he saw it all,'' Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. ``I'm sure psychologically, it's going to be difficult for him.''

``This is a very, very difficult thing to begin spring training with,'' San Diego manager Bruce Bochy said. ``It's such a tragic loss.''

Darr was San Diego's opening-day center fielder in 2001, his first full big league season, and started 69 games.

Bochy said Darr ``was a fun-loving guy who played the game like it was supposed to be played. He played all-out, and that's going to be missed.''

Last year, Darr made 24 starts in center field and 45 in right, where Gwynn hardly played because of leg injuries. Darr moved into the starting lineup after Ruben Rivera was released in spring training but eventually gave way to Mark Kotsay, who was obtained from Florida just before opening day.

Darr was good defensively but didn't have much power, hitting just two homers last year. However, both were game-winners in the Padres' last at-bat. He batted .277 with 34 RBIs.

``He had a pretty good year last year,'' Bochy said. ``He could run, he could throw, he could hit. Here's a 25-year-old kid with his future ahead of him, and it's a shame it happened.''

Darr was the second player in the Padres organization to be killed in a car crash in less than a year.

On July 29, minor league pitcher Gerik Baxter was killed near Indio, Calif., when a rear tire on his pickup blew out, causing the truck to swerve into another car and roll several times. Oakland Athletics draft pick Mark Hilde, a passenger in the truck, also died.

``This organization, we've been through this before,'' Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. ``More than anything, it's about family.''

Darr's death was the latest in growing list of spring training-time tragedies.

In March 1993, Cleveland Indians players Steve Olin and Tim Crews were killed while teammate Bob Ojeda was seriously injured in a Florida boating accident. Beer and vodka were found aboard the power boat that rammed a dock on Little Lake Nellie.

In February 1999, a rollover accident in Tucson injured Arizona Diamondbacks minor league pitcher John Eric Rosengren and killed his passenger and teammate, Kenneth Neal Robinson Jr.

Valenzuela said Darr was driving and it appeared the accident was alcohol related.

Valenzuela said the vehicle drifted into a sand median, overcorrected, rolled back across three lanes of the freeway and crashed through a fence, coming to rest on a frontage road.

Valenzuela said Darr and Johnson were not wearing seat belts and were ejected, while Howard was in the

[IkeaBoy]

wow, I totally missed the 'ares from xena' part and my chest tightened. but sorry for him

[/quote]
"My review of 2001 the year is the same as my review of 2001: A Space Odyssey- overlong, hard to follow, and only enjoyable if you're really really stoned." - Lewis Black
"a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic"- joseph stalin

[brodieman]

my thoughts exactly ikea, jesus h. i almost had a heart attack

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thanks for the sig droopygirl
From the dawn of time we came
Moving silently among you
Down through the centuries...

[Se7en]

Speaking as someone who watched the Hercules / Xena show (so I like mythology & lesbians!), I'm very upset that Kevin has died. He seemed like a cool guy.

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WWFallon = YOUR Emperor of Kings!

"Being a bastard WORKS."
--Spider Jerusalem