'Airwolf' Star Jan-Michael Vincent Says He's Broke And Lucky To Be Alive After Having Leg Amputated And Battle With Alcohol Addiction (PICS)

'Airwolf' Star 'Lucky To Be Alive' After Having Leg Amputated
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He was once paid $200,000 for every episode of 'Airwolf' he starred in and was a heartthrob to millions, but these days Jan-Michael Vincent says he's lucky to even be alive.

The 80s TV show, in which he starred as helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke, was watched by millions around the globe but when the series ended, the acting roles dried up.

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Jan-Michael Vincent pictured at his home in Vicksburg, Mississippi

The actor has now admitted he is an alcoholic, telling the National Enquirer: "I'm an alcoholic. I’m me. I got my personality. I don’t behave like an alcoholic.”

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The 70-year-old experienced a run of bad luck ever since 'Airwolf' was axed in 1986.

In 1996, he suffered multiple injuries in a serious car accident, which left him with broken vertebrae in his neck and damage to his vocal chords, leaving him with a permanent raspy voice.

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Jan-Michael Vincent as Stringfellow Hawke in 'Airwolf'

Twelve years later he was in another car accident and then contracted a leg infection as a result of complications from peripheral artery disease.

The infection became so bad that doctors had no choice but to amputate the lower half of his right leg, an op that almost killed him.

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He has since been fitted with a prosthetic limb but says he still has much to be thankful for.

“I look at this now and think I have nothing to be upset about when I think about what our U.S. military go through,” he told the National Enquirer. “They’re the real heroes.”

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As well as his numerous health issues, his wife Anna has also revealed that the couple are in financial difficulties, owing $70,000 in taxes.

She told The Enquirer: "I’m praying for a solution."

Watch Jan-Michael in action as Stringfellow Hawke in 'Airwolf' below...

30 Great Things About Growing Up In The '80s
Smash Hits(01 of12)
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Black Type. The readers' polls. "Thumbs aloft" Macca. Yes, Smash Hits' heyday was the '80s - and there was no finer, funnier read for a pop-loving British kid. (credit:eBay)
Digital watches(02 of12)
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Which were usually made by Casio, and which sometimes doubled as calculators. Oh, yes. (credit:Getty Images)
Sun-In(03 of12)
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The best thing to happen to '80s hair along with the perm, Sun-In turned your barnet blonde (or more likely, orange) in an instant.
Arcade/computer games(04 of12)
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Pac-Man, Frogger, Donkey Kong, Pole Position... If you weren't playing them at home, you were playing them down the arcade. Pocket money was never spent so quickly. (credit:Getty Images)
PEZ sweet dispensers(05 of12)
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Dispensing little tiny fizzy sweets was never so much fun! (credit:Getty Images)
Slush Puppies(06 of12)
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The best way to get brain freeze as a child in the '80s.
The Sony Walkman(07 of12)
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Which enabled us to listen to Duran Duran everywhere. Hoorah! (credit:Getty Images)
Five Star(08 of12)
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"Britain's answer to The Jackson Five" weren't really that. But they were fine purveyors of kid-friendly bubblegum pop and shoulder pads.
BMX bikes(09 of12)
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What the Chopper was to the '70s, so the BMX was to the '80s. Especially after we all saw 'E.T.' (credit:Getty Images)
Trivial Pursuit(10 of12)
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At last! British families had another board game to play apart from Monopoly. And it really sorted out the smart people from the, erm, people who regularly got stuck on blue Geography questions, ie everyone. (credit:Getty Images)
The Royal Wedding/Princess Diana(11 of12)
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British girls now had a pretty princess to coo over, British boys now had a member of the royal family they could actually fancy, and British kids everywhere got a day off school. Hoorah! (credit:AP)
The Rubik's Cube(12 of12)
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There was only one question on kids' lips in the '80s. And that was: "Can you do it?" (credit:PA)