Richard Hatch Dies at 71

Famed Actor and American science fiction icon, Richard Hatch, passed away.

It was widely publicized that Hatch had spent several years battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, a fight that ultimately claimed his life late afternoon on Tuesday, February 7th, 2017. After being transferred to hospice care a few days earlier, he was reportedly surrounded by friends and family at the time of his passing.

Best known for his role as ‘Apollo‘ on the original ‘Galactica‘ TV series, and its sequel ‘Galactica 1980‘. Hatch re-entered the limelight back in 2000 when he became a regular guest start on the Galactica’s re-imaged TV series airing on Sci-Fi.

Richard Hatch wasn’t just a fan-favorite on the silver screen, he was also a staple on the US and European convention circuit. Hatch made regular appearances at WonderCon, DragonCon and SDCC for past 30 years.

Using this fan-to-actor platform Hatch would regularly lobby for the revival of a ‘Galactica‘ series after both shows (original and reboot) were canceled prematurely and help boost the exposure of lower-budget Sci-Fi programs and creative content.

This mentality was exemplified in Hatch’s unpaid appearance in the 2014 Star Trek fan film Prelude To Axanar as Commander Kharn.  A role he was expected to revive once ‘Axanar‘ began production.

Upon hearing the news Ronald D. Moore, the creator of the ‘Galactica’ reboot and long-time friend of Hatch tweeted: “Richard Hatch was a good man, a gracious man, and a consummate professional. His passing is a heavy blow to the entire BSG family.” Hatch is survived by his son, Paul.

Fans took to the internet to express their sadness over losing such an icon.  The overwhelming support from all around the world truly speaks the level of impact Richard Hatch had on the Sci-Fi and entertainment communities at large.

His presence will surely be missed. Hatch is survived by his son, Paul and brother, John.