Vincent succumbed to cardiac arrest on Feb 10 in Asheville, North Carolina, of natural causes, according to his death certificate. No autopsy was performed.

It was unclear why it took nearly a month before news of his death was widely reported in US media on Friday.

Known for his blond-haired, blue-eyed good looks, Vincent kicked off his career in Westerns and action films alongside stars like Charles Bronson, Gene Hackman and John Wayne.

But it was with “Airwolf,” which launched in 1984, that he gained fame.

He played the role of Stringfellow Hawke, an exceptional helicopter pilot who was also seductive and adventurous.

There were explosions galore throughout the show, with a synthesizer soundtrack typical of the 1980s.

After his glory years, which were marred by alcohol and drug problems, he mostly played in B movies.