Born: July 15, 1944 – Died: February 10, 2019
Jan-Michael Vincent, born on July 15, 1944, in Denver, Colorado, was a virile and handsome actor who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s. With his square-jawed good looks, Vincent showed early potential for super-stardom. He gained recognition for his roles as rebellious young men challenging the system in films like The Tribe (1970) and White Line Fever (1975). Vincent also excelled in portraying men of action on both sides of the law, as seen in The Mechanic (1972) and Vigilante Force (1976). With an impressive list of notable performances, Jan-Michael Vincent became a captivating presence in the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Career
Jan-Michael Vincent had a challenging childhood, growing up in a troubled household. He had a strained relationship with his father and experienced difficulties throughout his youth.
Vincent's career in the entertainment industry began when a talent scout noticed his all-American looks. He made his first appearance on-screen before landing roles in various television shows. His first major successful role came in the film "The Mechanic" in 1972, where he played Steve McKenna. This role showcased his talent and established him as a rising star in Hollywood.
The role that catapulted Jan-Michael Vincent into stardom was his portrayal of Stringfellow Hawke in the helicopter action series "Airwolf." The show ran from 1984 to 1986 and solidified Vincent's reputation as a leading man. He became an icon of the 1980s, known for his rugged charm and action-packed performances.
Throughout his career, Jan-Michael Vincent received two wins and six nominations for various awards. Unfortunately, his personal life was marred by struggles and controversies. He was married to Patricia Anna Christ from June 2000 until his death in February 2019. Together, they had one child named Amber Vincent.
Vincent faced numerous personal problems, including battles with substance abuse and legal issues. In 1996, he was involved in a near-fatal car accident that left him with permanent damage to his voice. Despite these difficulties, Jan-Michael Vincent left a lasting impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry. He will be remembered as a captivating actor who showcased his talent in a wide range of roles.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | White Boy | Ron Masters |
| 2000 | The Thundering 8th | Capt. Otis Buchwald |
| 2000 | Escape to Grizzly Mountain | Trapper |
| 1998 | No Rest for the Wicked | Sheriff Juan Ramirez |
| 1998 | Buffalo '66 | Sonny |
| 1997 | The Palace (Video) | Unknown |
| 1997 | Nash Bridges (TV Series) | Bobby Chase (as Jan Michael Vincent) |
| 1996 | The Last Kill | Unknown |
| 1996 | Lethal Orbit (TV Movie) | Riff |
| 1996 | Jurassic Women (TV Movie) | Zepp |
| 1995 | Russian Roulette - Moscow 95 | Captain Nazarov |
| 1995 | Red Line (Video) | Keller |
| 1995 | Ice Cream Man | Detective Gifford |
| 1995 | Body Count | Detective Reinhart |
| 1995 | Abducted II: The Reunion | Brad Allen (as Jan Michael Vincent) |
| 1994 | Singapore Sling (TV Movie) | Billy |
| 1994 | Ipi Tombi | Steven Gilbert |
| 1994 | Renegade (TV Series) | Max |
| 1993 | Indecent Behavior | Tom Mathis |
| 1993 | Deadly Heroes | Cody Grant |
| 1993 | Hidden Obsession | Ben Scanlon |
| 1993 | Sins of Desire | Warren Robillard |
| 1993 | Midnight Witness | Lance |
| 1992 | Animal Instincts (Video) | Fletcher Ross (as Jan Michael Vincent) |
| 1992 | Beyond the Call of Duty | Len Jordan |
| 1992 | The Divine Enforcer (Video) | Father Thomas |
| 1991 | The Final Heist (TV Movie) | David King |
| 1991 | Raw Nerve | Lt. Bruce Ellis |
| 1991 | Xtro II: The Second Encounter | Dr. Ron Shepherd |
| 1991 | Hangfire | Colonel Johnson |
| 1990 | In Gold We Trust | Oliver Moss |
| 1990 | Haunting Fear (Video) | Detective James Trent |
| 1990 | Demonstone | Andy Buck |
| 1990 | Alienator | Commander |
| 1989 | Dirty Games | Dr. Kepler West |
| 1989 | Tarzan in Manhattan (TV Movie) | Brightmore |
| 1989 | Deadly Embrace (Video) | Stewart Moreland (as Jan Michael Vincent) |
| 1989 | Hit List | Jack Collins |
| 1987 | Born in East L.A. | McCalister (as Jan Michael Vincent) |
| 1987 | Enemy Territory | Parker |
| 1987 | Six Against the Rock (TV Movie) | Miran 'Buddy' Thompson |
| 1987 | Airwolf (TV Series) | Stringfellow Hawke |
| 1986 | Hotel (TV Series) | Nick Hauser |
| 1984–1986 | Airwolf (TV Series) | Stringfellow Hawke |
| 1985 | Get Out of My Room | Immigration Officer |
| 1984 | Airwolf (TV Movie) | Stringfellow Hawke |
| 1983 | Last Plane Out | Jack Cox |
| 1983 | The Winds of War (TV Mini Series) | Byron Henry |
| 1981 | Hard Country | Kyle |
| 1980 | The Return | Wayne |
| 1980 | Defiance | Tommy (as Jan Michael Vincent) |
| 1978 | Hooper | Delmore 'Ski' Shidski |
| 1978 | Big Wednesday | Matt |
| 1977 | Damnation Alley | Tanner |
| 1976 | Vigilante Force | Ben Arnold |
| 1976 | Shadow of the Hawk | Mike |
| 1976 | Baby Blue Marine | Marion |
| 1975 | White Line Fever | Carrol Jo Hummer |
| 1975 | Bite the Bullet | Carbo |
| 1973–1975 | Police Story (TV Series) | Warren Yates | Dave Hauser |
| 1974 | Buster and Billie | Buster Lane |
| 1973 | Toma (TV Series) | Billy Haskell |
| 1973 | Deliver Us from Evil (TV Movie) | Nick Fleming |
| 1973 | Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series) | Ritchie Manning |
| 1973 | The World's Greatest Athlete | Nanu |
| 1972 | The Mechanic | Steve McKenna |
| 1972 | Sandcastles (TV Movie) | Michael |
| 1972 | The Catcher (TV Movie) | Sam Callende |
| 1971 | Going Home | Jimmy Graham |
| 1971 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) | Travis Colter |
| 1971 | The Persuaders! (TV Series) | Helicopter Pilot (uncredited) |
| 1971 | Men at Law (TV Series) | Cpl. Logan Kehoe |
| 1971 | Dan August (TV Series) | Kevin Colter |
| 1968–1970 | The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (TV Series) | Link Simmons | Lincoln 'Link' Simmons (as Michael Vincent) |
| 1970 | The Tribe | Adrian |
| 1969–1970 | The Survivors (TV Series) | Jeff Hastings | Jeffrey Hastings |
| 1969 | This Is the Life (TV Series) | (as Michael Vincent) |
| 1968–1969 | Danger Island (TV Series) | Link Simmons (as Michael Vincent) |
| 1969 | The Last of the Powerseekers (TV Movie) | Jeffrey Hastings |
| 1969 | The Undefeated | Bubba Wilkes (as Michael Vincent) |
| 1968–1969 | Bonanza (TV Series) | Rick Miller | Eddie (as Michael Vincent) |
| 1968 | Journey to Shiloh | Little Bit Lucket (as Michael Vincent) |
| 1968 | Lassie (TV Series) | Chris Hanford (as Michael Vincent) |
| 1967 | The Bandits | Taye 'Boy' Brown (as Jan Michael Vincent) |
| 1967 | Dragnet 1967 (TV Series) | Rick Schneiderman (as Michael Vincent) |
| 1967 | The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk | Tony Prito (as Mike Vincent) |
