'Battlestar Galactica' Star Richard Hatch Dies Aged 71 After Suffering Pancreatic Cancer

Forever Captain Apollo...

‘Battlestar Galactica’ fans have paid tribute to the original show’s lead actor Richard Hatch, who has died aged 71.

Richard played Captain Apollo on the show, which ran for only one season but became an enduring telly favourite, when it was repeated around the world.

Richard’s name became synonymous with the series, and after the show finished, he wrote three books inspired by the story, and regularly attended Comic Con.

When the show was rebooted in 2003, he took the role of Tom Zarek’ in the new franchise. 

Open Image Modal
Richard Hatch starred with Dirk Benedict in the original series of 'Battlestar Galactica'
NBC

 

He passed away after suffering with pancreatic cancer, his family revealed to TMZ website yesterday.

Richard earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role, which saw him share screen time with Dirk Benedict as Starbuck and Lorne Greene as Commander Adama. Dirk paid tribute yesterday on Twitter, saying he was “devastated”.

He previously worked on  US daytime soap ‘All My Children’, and followed ‘Battlestar Galactica’ with roles on ‘Baywatch’, ‘Dynasty’ and ‘The Love Boat’.

‘Star Trek’ actor George Takei took to social media to share his thoughts, sending the message: “Rest with the galactic stars.”

RIP: The Celebrities We've Lost In 2016
JANUARY(01 of53)
Open Image Modal
David Bowie, Music Legend (b: 1947) (credit:Andrew H. Walker via Getty Images)
JANUARY(02 of53)
Open Image Modal
Terry Wogan, Broadcasting Legend (b. 1938) (credit:Nicky J Sims via Getty Images)
JANUARY(03 of53)
Open Image Modal
Alan Rickman, Actor (b. 1946) (credit:Dominique Charriau via Getty Images)
JANUARY(04 of53)
Open Image Modal
Colin Vearncombe (aka Black), Singer (b. 1962) (credit:Roberto Ricciuti via Getty Images)
JANUARY(05 of53)
Open Image Modal
René Angelil, Music Producer and Celine Dion's husband (b. 1942) (credit:Andreas Rentz via Getty Images)
JANUARY(06 of53)
Open Image Modal
Abe Vigoda, Actor (b. 1921) (credit:Dennis Van Tine/ABACA USA)
JANUARY(07 of53)
Open Image Modal
Frank Finlay, Actor (b. 1926) (credit:PA/PA Archive)
JANUARY(08 of53)
Open Image Modal
Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart, DJ and TV Presenter (b. 1941) (credit:William Conran/PA Wire)
JANUARY(09 of53)
Open Image Modal
Dan Haggerty, Actor (b. 1941) (credit:Imeh Akpanudosen via Getty Images)
JANUARY(10 of53)
Open Image Modal
Glenn Frey, Musician (b. 1948) (credit:Craig Barritt via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY(11 of53)
Open Image Modal
Frank Kelly, Actor (b. 1938) (credit:Niall Carson/PA Wire)
FEBRUARY(12 of53)
Open Image Modal
Harper Lee, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' novelist (b. 1926) (credit:Rob Carr/AP)
FEBRUARY(13 of53)
Open Image Modal
Vanity (aka. Denise Matthews), Singer (b. 1959) (credit:Ron Wolfson/Everett/REX Shutterstock)
FEBRUARY(14 of53)
Open Image Modal
Angela 'Big Ang' Raiola, 'Mob Wives' reality star (b. 1960) (credit:Jason LaVeris via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY(15 of53)
Open Image Modal
Louise Rennison, Author and Comedian (b. 1951) (credit:David Levenson via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY(16 of53)
Open Image Modal
Maurice White, Earth, Wind and Fire founder and musician (b. 1941) (credit:John Phillips/EMPICS Entertainment)
FEBRUARY(17 of53)
Open Image Modal
George Kennedy, Actor (b. 1925) (credit:Ron Galella via Getty Images)
MARCH(18 of53)
Open Image Modal
Paul Daniels, Magician (b. 1938) (credit:Suzanne Hubbard/PA Wire)
MARCH(19 of53)
Open Image Modal
Ronnie Corbett, Actor and Comedian (b. 1930) (credit:Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)
MARCH(20 of53)
Open Image Modal
Sir George Martin, Beatles Producer (b. 1926) (credit:Jae. C. Hong/AP)
MARCH(21 of53)
Open Image Modal
Tony Warren, 'Coronation Street' creator (b. 1936) (credit:Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images)
MARCH(22 of53)
Open Image Modal
Denise Robertson, 'This Morning' Agony Aunt (b. 1932) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
MARCH(23 of53)
Open Image Modal
Garry Shandling, Comedian and Actor (b. 1949) (credit:Tibrina Hobson via Getty Images)
MARCH(24 of53)
Open Image Modal
Patty Duke, Actress (b. 1946) (credit:Bobby Bank via Getty Images)
MARCH(25 of53)
Open Image Modal
Keith Emerson, Musician (b. 1944) (credit:Paul A. Hebert/AP)
MARCH(26 of53)
Open Image Modal
Frank Sinatra Jr, Singer (b. 1944) (credit:Bill Kostroun/AP)
APRIL(27 of53)
Open Image Modal
Prince, Music Legend (b. 1958) (credit:AP)
APRIL(28 of53)
Open Image Modal
Victoria Wood, Actress and Comedian (b. 1953) (credit:Steve Meddle/REX/Shutterstock)
APRIL(29 of53)
Open Image Modal
David Gest, Producer and 'CBB' Star (b. 1953) (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
APRIL(30 of53)
Open Image Modal
Doris Roberts, Actress (b. 1925) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
MAY(31 of53)
Open Image Modal
Carla Lane, TV Writer (b. 1928) (credit:Photoshot via Getty Images)
JUNE(32 of53)
Open Image Modal
Anton Yelchin, Actor (b. 1989) (credit:Arthur Mola/AP)
JUNE(33 of53)
Open Image Modal
Muhammad Ali, Boxing Legend (b. 1942) (credit:AP/AP)
JULY(34 of53)
Open Image Modal
Caroline Aherne, Actress and Comedian (b. 1963) (credit:rune hellestad via Getty Images)
AUGUST(35 of53)
Open Image Modal
Gene Wilder, Actor (b. 1933) (credit:STEVEN SENNE/AP)
SEPTEMBER(36 of53)
Open Image Modal
Alexis Arquette, Actor and Trans Activist (b. 1969) (credit:Donna Ward/ABACA USA)
OCTOBER(37 of53)
Open Image Modal
Jean Alexander, 'Coronation Street' Actress (b. 1926) (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
OCTOBER(38 of53)
Open Image Modal
Pete Burns, Dead or Alive singer (b. 1959) (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
OCTOBER(39 of53)
Open Image Modal
Bobby Vee, Singer (b. 1943) (credit:Jeff Baenen/AP)
NOVEMBER(40 of53)
Open Image Modal
Robert Vaughn, Actor (b. 1932) (credit:Chris Young/PA Archive)
NOVEMBER(41 of53)
Open Image Modal
Keo Woolford, 'Hawaii Five-0' star (b. 1967) (credit:Tibrina Hobson via Getty Images)
NOVEMBER(42 of53)
Open Image Modal
Leonard Cohen, Singer and Poet (b. 1934) (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
NOVEMBER(43 of53)
Open Image Modal
Florence Henderson, 'Brady Bunch' actress (b. 1934) (credit:Richard Shotwell/AP)
DECEMBER(44 of53)
Open Image Modal
Andrew Sachs, 'Fawlty Towers' star (b. 1930) (credit:PA)
DECEMBER(45 of53)
Open Image Modal
Peter Vaughan, Actor (b. 1923) (credit:PA/PA Wire)
DECEMBER(46 of53)
Open Image Modal
Greg Lake, Musician (b. 1947) (credit:Jim Steinfeldt via Getty Images)
DECEMBER(47 of53)
Open Image Modal
Ian McCaskill, BBC Weatherman (b. 1938) (credit:Michael Stephens/PA Wire)
DECEMBER(48 of53)
Open Image Modal
Zsa Zsa Gabor, Actress (b. 1917) (credit:AP)
DECEMBER(49 of53)
Open Image Modal
Rick Parfitt, Status Quo guitarist (b. 1948) (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
DECEMBER(50 of53)
Open Image Modal
George Michael, Singer (b. 1963) (credit:Francois Mori/AP)
DECEMBER(51 of53)
Open Image Modal
Liz Smith, Actress (b. 1921) (credit:Doug Peters/Doug Peters)
DECEMBER(52 of53)
Open Image Modal
Carrie Fisher, actress (b. 1956) (credit:Paul Hackett / Reuters)
DECEMBER(53 of53)
Open Image Modal
Debbie Reynolds, actress and singer (b. 1932) (credit:FilmMagic)