Richard Hatch as Captain
Tom "Apollo" Zarek Richard Hatch was born on May 21, 1945 in Santa Monica, California. At the tender age of eight, he began learning classical piano, and as he grew older, he developed a great interest in performing. Following his studies at Harbor College in San Pedro, Hatch became affiliated with a Los Angeles repertory company, and his participation with the said group gave him the opportunity to travel to New York City. His earlier theater credits include Song of Walt Whitman, Young Rebels, Exercise and PS Your Cat is Dead, for which he won an Obie Award.
In 1971, he made his television debut in the popular daytime series, All My Children. He was cast in the role of Phillip “Phil” Brent, Sr, and although he only appeared in one episode, his performance was enough to get him cast in other television series. Among his other small screen projects are Room 222, The Sixth Sense, Kung Fu, Barnaby Jones, Nakia, Medical Center, The Rookies, Hawaii- Five-O, The Waltons, Cannon, The Streets of San Francisco, Murder, She Wrote, Finder of the Lost Loves, Cover Up, TJ Hooker, Dynasty, MacGyver, Hotel, Santa Barbara and Baywatch.
Hatch first joined the Battlestar Galactica franchise during its original run in 1978. He was given the role of Captain Apollo, and his convincing portrayal earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best TV Actor- Drama in 1979. His involvement in the franchise has not been limited to the small screen, as he is the co-author of at least five Battlestar Galactica novels and was even credited as the writer, co-director and executive producer of a Battlestar Galactica trailer. Hatch made the trailer as a way to push Universal into coming up with a sequel series, but instead was met with a re-imagining, to his great disappointment. However, after the new series’ producer Ronald Moore appeared and answered questions at Galacticon, Hatch gained a new perspective, and was even given the role of a recurring character named Tom Zarek.
Additionally, Hatch spends his time giving lectures on self-confidence and expression and facilitating acting workshops.