American actor, a dark-blond heartthrob of the ’70s and ’80s, most well known for having played helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke on the television series Airwolf (1984–1986) and for his role as the protagonist Matt Johnson in the 1978 film Big Wednesday.
His roles also included TV movies, over 34 films and later starring in roles of low-budget variety. Vincent’s career suffered from a history of substance abuse, however he appeared opposite various screen stars including Robert Mitchum in Going Home (1971), Charles Bronson in crime film The Mechanic (1972), Burt Reynolds in Hooper (1978) and Kim Basinger in Hard Country (1981).
He was discovered by an agent after completing his service with the National Guard, making his screen debut in 1967 in a Mexican production. Vincent appeared in the Danger Island segments of Hanna-Barbera’s The Banana Splits series as Link (1968–1969). His first starring role was in the fall of 1969 in the prime-time soap opera The Survivors, alongside Lana Turner and George Hamilton; the series was canceled mid-season.
Vincent married Bonnie Poorman in 1968 and they had a daughter, Amber Vincent, in 1972. Their divorce was finalized on 2 January 1977.
In November 1994 his ex-wife, Joanne, obtained a restraining order to bar him from coming within 300 ft of their Malibu home, claiming that he had made her life a hell for ten years, stating charges that he had blackened her eyes, broke her nose and cracked her lip. Though their problems began in 1984, allegedly with drug use, the couple married in 1985. Joanne also claimed that about once a week she was forced to perform sex acts with Jan-Michael and with his buddies. In reply, Vincent admitted to verbal abuse but denied anything further. They had no children and their divorce was finalized in 1999. He was married to his third wife, Patricia Ann Christ from 2000 until his death.
He survived a drunk driving accident on 26 August 1996 in which he broke three vertebrae in his neck. This was a second major accident; the year before he had a crash that shattered bones in his face and damaged his left eye. Unable to work, he dropped out further. In March 1999, he had three arrests for public drunkenness and in January 2000, another arrest constituted a violation of parole conditions.
On 11 July 2000, Vincent was taken into custody for missing a court date. He was living on the streets for the most part, bumming a bed when he could find someone who would let him stay. His once-handsome face was hollow and haggard, his eyes cold and his mouth hard. On 29 September 2000, Vincent began serving a 60 day jail term for violating his probation. Vincent was involved in another automobile accident in 2008.
Vincent’s right leg was amputated just below the knee in 2012 after he contracted a leg infection as a result of complications from peripheral artery disease. After that he walked with a prosthetic limb, although he was sometimes forced to use a wheelchair.
Vincent died at 4:24 PM on 10 February 2019, aged 73, in Asheville, North Carolina due to cardiac arrest while hospitalized at Mission Hospital Memorial Campus. Bradycardia, a decreased heart rate, was listed as an underlying cause of death.
Link to Wikipedia biography