From $200,000 an Episode to Reclusion: the Unraveling of 'Airwolf' Legend Jan-Michael Vincent
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
The mid-1990s dealt a series of brutal physical blows from which Vincent never truly recovered. In August 1996, he rear-ended his then-girlfriend’s car in Mission Viejo, California, breaking three vertebrae in his neck. The collision also permanently damaged his vocal cords, leaving him with a rasping, hollow whisper. In 2008, Vincent was involved in another serious automobile wreck that resulted in multiple fractures.
His health deteriorated further over the next decade. In 2012, Vincent contracted an aggressive infection caused by peripheral artery disease. Doctors placed him in a medically induced coma to save his life. To halt the spread of the infection, surgeons had to amputate the lower portion of his right leg. He was fitted with a prosthetic limb and spent the remainder of his life relying on a wheelchair and walking aids.
In rare interviews granted to tabloid cameras during his final years in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Vincent looked unrecognizable compared to his youthful screen persona. He spoke openly about his battles with addiction, expressing genuine sorrow over how his career ended while acknowledging that the consequences were largely self-inflicted.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
