Airwolf star Jan-Michael Vincent dies aged 74 after suffering cardiac arrest

[cadence4u]

Jan-Michael Vincent, 1980s TV heartthrob and star of Airwolf, has died.

The actor passed away last month, on February 10, after suffering a cardiac arrest at a North Carolina hospital. He was 74.

TMZ, who obtained the death certificate, reports that no autopsy was performed and the star was later cremated.

The Denver born star had many credits to his name, with his career spanning back to the late 1960s.

His last role was in the 2002 drama White Boy.

But it was his role as helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke in Airwolf that made him a star. The show, which ran from 1984 to 1986, earned him $200,000 per episode, making him the highest paid actor at the time.

At the height of his fame he admitted to issues with drugs and alcohol - which reportedly contributed to the cancellation of his the CBS series in 1986 - and confessed in recent years that he was still struggling with alcoholism.

The actor almost died in 2012 after an infection forced him to have his right leg amputated.

He also suffered his fair share of bad luck including two serious car accidents.

In the first incident in 1996, Vincent broke three vertebrae in his neck and sustained a permanent injury to his vocal cords that left him with a permanently raspy voice.

The second crash happened in 2008, but worse was to follow in 2012 when he contracted a leg infection as a result of complications from peripheral artery disease.

As a young actor, Vincent won rave reviews for his role in 1978 cult surfing movie Big Wednesday.

He also starred opposite Burt Reynolds in the 1978 film Hooper and co-starred with Kim Basinger in the 1981 film Defiance.

Vincent lived with his third wife Patricia Ann who he married in 1999.

The troubled actor was married twice before, first to Bonnie Poorman, his 'college classmate sweetheart' in 1969 from 1974 to 1975.

The pair had a daughter, Amber Vincent, who is now 45.

He was married to first wife Joanne Robinson from 1986 to 1997.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6787161/Airwolf-star-Jan-Michael-Vincent-dies-aged-74-suffering-cardiac-arrest.html

[bremer51]

I liked him in "The Mechanic" with Charles Bronson.

[potluck6]

I remember him saw in a movie back in 75 cant think of the name.  this was in febuary only heard about it now rip.

[surveygrabber]

That's sad. I used to watch Airwolf a lot as a kid. Was a good show to watch.

[sfreeman8]

I liked him in "The Mechanic" with Charles Bronson.

So did I. That was the first movie I saw him in and I started to follow his career...at least for a year. Got too busy to worry about Hollywood. It was nice in those days because they kept their politics to themselves. You either liked a star or you didn't. You didn't like them if they had the same politics as you. That's the way it should be. It changed with Hanoi Jane.

[timvolley]

i didnt hear about this i liked him in Airwolf

[ktheodos]

Thanks for sharing - it sounds like he had an "adventurous" life that's for sure.

[dwggs]

Wow .. This is the first time I'm reading about his death.  He was definitely a hottie back in the day.

[BATISTAGIRL663]

He was in a movie about 18 wheelers but I can’t remember it that my brother really liked a lot and that’s pretty much all I know about him I hope he rest in peace seems like so many people are passing away

[betlynjua]

This is the first I've heard of this.  That's too bad.  I remember him from his television series.  He was pretty cool.  If I remember correctly, my mother used to like him as well. LOL Go figure.

I'm sure that he will rest in peace. 

[sbenkoski]

The old heart throbs  , now days  most look like goons !

[betlynjua]

The old heart throbs  , now days  most look like goons !

Oh, I have to agree with you on this.  I'm so old school in many ways including heart throbs.  Personally, I don't see much of anything in today's new fangled mess.

[gaylasue]

He was such a hunk when he was young.

[bretay]

so sad..i remember seeing him in a lot of movies over the years...

[betlynjua]

He was such a hunk when he was young.

Yes he was quite handsome.  I made the mistake of googling his more recent photos.  What a difference - what an unpleasant shock. Apparently he had addiction problems.  Those problems took a real toll on his health.  He was pretty rough looking in his last few years.