Richard Hatch, best known for portraying space pilot Captain Apollo on the original “Battlestar Galactica” television series, died Tuesday at his Southland home following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hatch was 71.
Alec Peters, producer of a “Star Trek” fan film supported by Hatch, wrote on his Facebook page that the actor “knew he had little time left.”
“Richard was in good spirits when I visited him two weeks ago,” he wrote. “He knew his time was short, but was comforted by the fact that his son would be taken care of.”
Hatch’s manager, Michael Kaliski, told Variety that Hatch died at 1:30 p.m. at his home in Santa Clarita, with his son Paul at his side.
In addition to his starring role on the original “Battlestar Gallactica” — for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe — Hatch also appeared in a reboot of the series that began in 2004, playing an ambitious politician.
Hatch was also known for his work opposite Karl Malden in the final season of “The Streets of San Francisco.” He was a cast member on the soap opera “All My Children” in the 1970s and appeared on shows including “The Waltons,” “Fantasy Island,” “The Love Boat” and “Hawaii Five-O.”
Actor Edward James Olmos was among those paying tribute to Hatch, writing on Twitter, “Richard Hatch, you made our universe a better place. We love you for it.”
“Battlestar Galactica” producer Ronald D. Moore added, “Richard Hatch was a good man, a gracious man and a consummate professional. His passing is a heavy blow to the entire BSG family.”
–City News Service