In the 1970s, he was on the cusp of movie stardom. He costarred alongside John Wayne, one of the most popular movie stars of all time. He also costarred alongside Burt Reynolds, one of the most popular movie stars of the time. He was in Damnation Alley, one of my favorite dystopian movies. In the 1980s, he had his own series and was reported to be the highest paid person on television. However, I have been wondering whatever happened to Jan-Michael Vincent.
Somewhere, his career went sideways and into the B-Movie realm. According to Wikipedia, he has had serious health issues and lives near Vicksburg, Mississippi. To remember Vincent’s career, we will look at the wisdom to be gained from a few of his films.
From The Undefeated
If I can’t have the whole dog, I don’t want the tail!
From Bite the Bullet
To be a cowpuncher, that don’t mean you actually got to go around punching them.
I’ve never saw a man who could hold his liquor like a bottle.
Killing a man don’t prove you’re a man.
A boy lookin’ for a reputation is the most dangerous thing alive.
Flattery and money will get you anything.
From Damnation Alley
All the dead are dead, and the living are dying.
From Hooper
Nothing hurts when you’re numb.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 
“Bite the Bullet” is one of my favorite nobody-likes-it-but-me movies 🙂
It’s a good one. Who doesn’t like it?
Most people either haven’t heard of it, or haven’t seen it. It has a lot of horses. I like that in a movie.
You’re right – he seemed destined for long term Stardom. Handsome, charismatic, talented … then down the drug and alcohol hole he went … arrests, car accidents.rehabs, serious medical issues … sad.
Has still had a heck of a career – appearing in over 80 movies and tv shows.
He was good, but all of the things you mentioned kept him from being better.
Some good words of wisdom.
I only wish I could have found more movies to get more words.
Reblogged this on SBI: A Thinning Crowd and commented:
Several years ago, I wrote this post about Jan-Michael Vincent. With his passing, I decided to repost it.