Jan-Michael Vincent has died at the age of 74.
According to TMZ, the 80's heartthrob best known for his role as Stringfellow Hawke on Airwolf, passed away on February 10 after suffering cardiac arrest while a patient at a North Carolina hospital. No autopsy was reportedly performed. He was later cremated.
Airwolf catapulted Jan-Michael into stardom. While starring on the series from 1984 to 1987, he was reportedly the highest-paid actor at the time, pulling in $200k per episode. The show's fast and furious run was largely impacted by the actor's cocaine abuse, as the show was cut short after only two seasons.
The late actor is also known for starring opposite Burt Reynolds in the 1978 film Hooper. He also starred alongside Kim Basinger in Hard Country in 1981, and appeared in classic TV shows like, Lassie, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke.
Jan-Michael's career following his time on Airwolf was additionally affected by his drug and alcohol usage, which he acknowledged years later. In 2000, he served 60 days in jail for assaulting his girlfriend and being caught drunk in public. And in 2012, he nearly died after an infection forced him to have his leg amputated.
In a 2014 interview with Radar Online he discussed being a recovering alcoholic. While he didn't mention how long he had been sober, he said his actions spoke for his sobriety. "I’m here, and I’m talking to you… I’m me. I got my personality. I don’t behave like an alcoholic. That’s what I think about. I just like to be where I am," he said. Also during that interview, Jan-Michael said he would rather be remembered for his surfing abilities rather than his acting. "If I was going to brag I would brag about that," he admitted. Jan-Michael famously showed off his surfing skills in the 1980s movie, Big Wednesday.
Jan-Michael is survived by his third wife, Patricia Ann, and daughter Amber Vincent.
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