Jan-Michael Vincent

Jan-Michael Vincent (July 15, 1944 – February 10, 2019) was an American actor. He emerged as a leading man in the 1970s, playing notable roles in films like Going Home (1971), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture; The Mechanic (1972), Damnation Alley (1977), and Big Wednesday (1978). He earned his second Golden Globe nomination for his role on the television miniseries The Winds of War (1983), before starring as helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke on the television series Airwolf (1984–87).

At the height of his career, Vincent was the highest-paid actor on American television. His success was tempered by a troubled personal and professional life, exacerbated by substance abuse and legal problems. After leaving Airwolf, he appeared in low-budget and independent films until retiring in 2003. During the latter part of his life, he suffered health issues, before dying in 2019 from a cardiac arrest.

Early life

Jan-Michael Vincent was born in Denver, Colorado, where his father was stationed after enlisting in the United States Army in 1941. His father, Lloyd Whiteley Vincent (September 7, 1919 – August 30, 2000), was born in Tulare, California, and raised in nearby Hanford in the San Joaquin Valley. His mother, Doris Jane (née Pace; August 2, 1925 – February 22, 1993), was born in Arkansas and moved to Hanford as a child.