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Battlestar Galactica Actor Richard Hatch Dies At 71 (tmz.com)
New submitter computerman413 writes: TMZ reports that Richard Hatch has passed away at 71 from pancreatic cancer. Hatch played Apollo on the original Battlestar Galactica, and had a recurring role as terrorist Tom Zarek on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.
He was so pissed about Obama that he died!
Felgercarb!
More seriously though, pancreatic cancer is one of the worst ways to go.
I always respected his efforts to revive the BattleStar Galactica IP when there wasn't much interest in doing so. Reminds me of what I did with AoE 2.
That life here ends out there.
I never thought CBS would go that far to keep Star Trek: Axanar from being made.
On a serious note, it's a shame that Mr. Hatch was never able to get his Battlestar Galactica revival off the ground. While the 1970's version was corny, I enjoyed it when it aired.
so say we all!
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Amen!
Thanks for the link.
You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
By 2 years at that.
As someone said here, very sad to see another great personality part due to pancreatic cancer. From my standpoint, as a fan, I believe he had a successful artistic life where he displayed great ability performing multiple types (his villain comeback is proof). He did look (in the BSG shows, where I happened to see him perform) like he loved what he did for a living, and his mojo was notoriously contagious on stage. It even surpassed the fourth wall as I really did feel his character emotion in his most stressful or flamboyant moments, both as Cpt. Apollo and Tom Zarek.
I hope his personal life was as filled with bliss as his professional one, and if they happen to be reading: my most sincere condolences to family and friends.
Wherever you are Richard, you have reason to be proud.
He was 71. Ok, he had a nice long life. Then I do the math and it's 11 years away for me. I'm not ready to croak yet, and won't be in 11 years.
jeez, getting old is not just painful but scary too.
I met Richard Hatch at DragonCon 2016. I'd seen him before at other events, but I actually had time to sit and talk with him among friends this past year, along with Gigi Edgley who had been working with him on a small film project, Diminuendo (catch the trailer on vimeo at https://vimeo.com/181168232 ). It was really refreshing to speak to an actor that was very kind and personable and genuinely interested in opening a dialogue with sci-fi fans about the sort of projects we were all mutually interested in.
Without Hatch, the Battlestar Galactica remake would never have made it to the concept phase, much less to TV. He fought for its revival for decades, and it was his persistence that eventually made the moneymen cave and give the franchise another shot. Beyond that, he's actively campaigned for many sci-fi productions and fought for the genre from film festivals to big blockbuster movies. Time and again, the people who hold the purse at the studios don't understand the value of fantasy or sci-fi -- and it takes many years for everything for a project to come together. The right script has to have the right producer, director, funding, actors, writers, musical talent, special effects artists... hundreds of key people all coming together at the right time to make a project happen. Things are shelved for years for simple timing issues. Hatch is one of the few that made sure that certain properties like BSG were kept in the minds of decision-makers so that when things were right, the projects could go forward with speed.
When he spoke with me, he talked about some of his most recent work that was circulating at film festivals and how he really appreciated the fan base that shows up to events as they support him and give evidence that these projects can really have legs. We're talking about a guy in his 70s who could easily just up and retire, but was so passionate about his craft and world-building, he toured with various artists to drum up excitement for their work. He still held workshops for budding actors, and he authored many BSG books. He could have taken offers for lots of movies, but he preferred to work on projects he was passionate about.
I'd had the privilege of sitting not 10 ft from nearly the entire BSG cast at a prior DragonCon -- Hatch included. While all of the actors were very interesting and shared a lot of great info while being funny and entertaining, he and Edward James Olmos especially carried the room when they spoke and were very humble about being able to deliver rich performances about meaningful topics that resonate in today's socio-political landscapes.
Whatever else you may think of Richard Hatch, know that he was a sci-fi fan at heart and he loved being a part of worlds and stories that he as an actor and writer and you all as fans helped build together.
I already sold my soul to Cthulu.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
was axanar , guess cbs /paramount suing it offline killed him,
so copyright kills actors .....finally
Oh you poor guy... White guys are so oppressed, I know... really... It's like apartheid or something having 90% of government composed of white guys..
I enjoyed his recent performance in Star Trek: Prelude to Axanar. I was really looking forward to him reprising his role for the real Axanar.
RIP Richard Hatch
Shame the orignal battlestar galactica was great. And he acted well
Was the story (really) released by TMZ only?
"Dear God, I am really sorry for being the way you made me. It's all my fault, really. I would ask you to forgive me and save my soul, but I don't want to imply you don't know what you're doing, I'll leave you to it. Thanks! Over and out."
Side note, Agents of SHIELD used that four-letter word last night in a probable coincidence / homage.
And if you donate enough, God will "Call Home" the other prominent televangelists! Hallelujah!