Former All My Children Star Richard Hatch Dead at 71

Former soap opera star, Richard Hatch, has passed away at the age of 71.

Born in Santa Monica, California, the handsome actor became an original cast member of All My Children when he was cast as high school student Phil Brent.

The young leading man really took off in popularity when he was paired with Tara, as played by Karen Lynn Gorney (who went on to star opposite John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever).

Hatch left the soap after two years, and then enjoyed guest spots on many of the popular primetime shows of the time. But his big claim to fame that won him a permanent spot in pop culture was when he portrayed Apollo on the original Battlestar Galactica movie and then TV series in 1978. The show only lasted one season, and later he was the only actor to appear in the reboot of the series though he played a different character.

In between, he guest-starred in many popular shows, including a role on Dynasty in 1984 where he played Dean Caldwell. In 1990, he joined the soap opera Santa Barbara as Stephen Slade, in a storyline involving Cassie (Karen Moncrieff). That role didn’t last too long and the actor was replaced.

Dedicated to his craft, Hatch continued to work steadily through this year. Even while he suffered from pancreatic cancer. The former daytime star passed away Tuesday leaving behind a son, Paul Hatch.

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