‘Battlestar Galactica’ 1978 Cast Then and Now: Rare Photos, Tragedies, Untold Stories
From Richard Hatch to Jane Seymour, here’s what happened to the beloved sci-fi cast
When Battlestar Galactica premiered in 1978, it arrived with all the spectacle television could muster at the time. Big sets, dazzling effects, and a sweeping story of survival in the stars—all of it designed to ride the wave of Star Wars mania while carving out a space (no pun intended) of its own. For kids watching back then, it wasn’t just another show; it felt like an event, the kind of weekly appointment that glued you to the screen (which is the reason the original Star Trek was enjoying such popularity at the time). You didn’t just tune in to see Colonial Vipers dogfighting against Cylon Raiders—you came for the heroes and villains who made those battles actually mean something.
At the heart of it all were characters who felt like family. There was Apollo, the straight-arrow pilot who carried the burden of leadership; Starbuck, the swaggering rogue (think a less grumpy Han Solo) who somehow always managed to get out of trouble; and Commander Adama, steady as a rock at the center of the storm. Add in Athena, Boomer, Sheba, Cassiopeia, Serina and even the villainous Baltar, and you had an ensemble that carried both the action and the emotion.
Looking back now, nearly five decades later, there’s a lot of affection for the cast who brought these characters to life. Some became household names, like Dirk Benedict when he moved on to The A-Team or Jane Seymour with her long run on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Other already were, like Lorne Greene who segued from the long-running TV Western Bonanza to Galactica, while still others stepped away from the spotlight, though their time aboard the Galactica left a lasting mark.
What follows is a look at the Battlestar Galactica cast then and now, honoring the people who helped build a show that, despite running only a single season, never truly went away. The Cylons might have been relentless, but so has the fandom for this one-of-a-kind space saga.
Richard Hatch (Captain Apollo)
Character: Captain Apollo was the son of Commander Adama and a Colonial warrior who served as one of the fleet’s most skilled pilots aboard the Battlestar Galactica. Brave, principled and deeply loyal to his family and friends, Apollo often served as a moral compass for the series. He was also a surrogate father figure to Boxey following the death of Boxey’s mother, Serina (played by Jane Seymour).
Before Battlestar Galactica: Richard Hatch began his career in television in the early 1970s, earning recognition as Philip Brent on the ABC soap All My Children. He went on to appear in popular prime-time series, including The Streets of San Francisco, where he replaced Michael Douglas for the show’s final season (1976–77). Other credits before Galactica included guest spots on Hawaii Five-O, CHiPs and Dynasty.
Life post-Galactica: Hatch remained strongly tied to the Battlestar Galactica franchise throughout his career. He was deeply disappointed when the original series was cancelled after one season in 1979, and he spent decades championing its revival. In the 1990s he produced a trailer for his proposed continuation titled Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming, which gained attention at conventions but was never picked up. He later authored or co-authored several licensed Battlestar Galactica novels that continued the story. When Ronald D. Moore’s reimagined version of the show debuted in 2004, Hatch was brought in to play Tom Zarek, a political agitator and sometimes antagonist. Beyond Galactica, Hatch guest-starred in numerous television shows, appeared in independent films and was active on the convention circuit, where he was beloved by fans for his enthusiasm and accessibility.
Personal: Richard Hatch was born May 21, 1945, in Santa Monica, California. He never married but had one son, Paul Hatch.
Death: Hatch passed away on February 7, 2017, in Los Angeles at the age of 71, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death was widely mourned by fans and colleagues, with tributes highlighting both his performance as Apollo and his enduring devotion to the Battlestar Galactica universe.
Dirk Benedict (Lieutenant Starbuck)
Character: Lieutenant Starbuck was Apollo’s best friend, fellow Colonial warrior and a brash, charming pilot aboard the Galactica. Known for his quick wit, gambling habit, cigar smoking and womanizing ways, Starbuck was both a source of comic relief and a fan-favorite hero whose loyalty to his comrades never wavered.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Benedict began acting in the early 1970s, appearing in the film Georgia, Georgia (1972) and earning recognition with a leading role in the cult horror movie Sssssss (1973), in which he played a man slowly being transformed into a snake. He also appeared on television, including a recurring role on Chopper One (1974) and guest spots on series such as Charlie’s Angels and Hawaii Five-O.
Life post-Galactica: Benedict’s biggest success after Battlestar Galactica came with his role as Templeton “Faceman” Peck on the NBC hit The A-Team (1983–87), where his good looks and con-artist charm made him a central figure in the team’s adventures. He also appeared in such films as Ruckus (1980) and Blue Tornado (1991), and on stage in productions like The Sound of Music. In later years, he made guest appearances on Charlie’s Angels and Walker, Texas Ranger, wrote books, including Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy (1991) and And Then We Went Fishing (1993), and participated in reality television, including Celebrity Big Brother in the UK (2007). Though he did not appear in the reimagined Galactica, he voiced criticism of the reboot’s darker tone and the re-gendering of Starbuck.
Personal: Dirk Benedict was born March 1, 1945, in Helena, Montana. He was married to actress Toni Hudson from 1986 until their divorce in 1995. They had two sons together, George and Roland, and Benedict also has another son, John Talbert, from a previous relationship.
Lorne Greene (Commander Adama)
Character: Commander Adama was the wise and steady leader of the surviving human fleet aboard the Battlestar Galactica. A father figure both literally (to Apollo and Athena) and figuratively to his people, Adama embodied authority, dignity and compassion. His resolve to guide the fleet in its search for Earth was central to the series’ mythos.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Born in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1915, Greene first rose to prominence in Canada as a newsreader for the CBC during World War II, where his deep voice earned him the nickname “The Voice of Doom.” He transitioned to acting in the 1940s and 1950s, appearing on stage, radio and in films. His breakout came with the long-running NBC Western Bonanza (1959–1973), where he played patriarch Ben Cartwright.
Life post-Galactica: After Battlestar Galactica ended in 1979, Greene continued working in television and film. He reprised his role in the short-lived spinoff Galactica 1980, went on to host and narrate series such as New Wilderness, appeared in TV movies and remained active in theater. Greene also recorded several spoken-word and folk albums, including a chart-topping single in the 1960s, “Ringo.” He remained a beloved television personality through the 1980s.
Personal: Greene married Rita Hands of Toronto in 1938, and the couple had twins, Charles and Belinda, before divorcing in 1960. He married Nancy Deale in 1961, and they had a daughter, Gillian. Known as a warm and approachable figure off-screen, Greene was active in charitable causes and animal welfare.
Death: Lorne Greene passed away on September 11, 1987, in Santa Monica, California, following complications from pneumonia after ulcer surgery. He was 72 years old. His legacy endures as both Ben Cartwright on Bonanza and Commander Adama on Battlestar Galactica, two of television’s most enduring patriarchal figures.
John Colicos (Count Baltar)
Character: Count Baltar was the scheming, traitorous politician who betrayed the Twelve Colonies to the Cylons in exchange for promises of power. Originally sentenced to death for his treachery, he was spared by the Cylons and instead became their reluctant ally, plotting against both them and the humans as he sought to ensure his own survival.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Born in Toronto, Canada, on December 10, 1928, Colicos was a classically trained actor who built a distinguished career on stage and screen. He gained fame in the 1960s as the first actor to portray a Klingon—Commander Kor—in the original Star Trek episode “Errand of Mercy” (1967). His extensive résumé included roles in The Changeling (1980), Anne of Green Gables (1985), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) and guest spots on numerous television series. He was also a highly respected Shakespearean performer, with credits at Stratford and on Broadway.
Life post-Galactica: After Battlestar Galactica, Colicos continued to work steadily in television, film and theater. He reprised his role as Kor in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine during the 1990s, earning acclaim for bringing depth and gravitas to the character decades after his debut. His television credits included appearances on Mission: Impossible, Murder, She Wrote, X-Men: The Animated Series (as the voice of Apocalypse), and Outer Limits. He also returned often to Canadian theater and was a regular presence on stage.
Personal: Colicos married Mona McHenry in 1956, and the couple had three children. Though intensely private about his personal life, he was known among colleagues for his booming voice, commanding presence and dry sense of humor.
Death: John Colicos passed away on March 6, 2000, in Toronto at the age of 71 after suffering a heart attack. His death was widely mourned in both Canada and the U.S., with fans remembering him as a commanding villain on Battlestar Galactica and a groundbreaking Klingon in the Star Trek universe.
Maren Jensen (Lieutenant Athena)
Character: Athena was the daughter of Commander Adama and sister to Captain Apollo. A bridge officer aboard the Galactica, she served as a communication specialist and was deeply loyal to her family and the fleet. Though her role was less action-oriented than Apollo or Starbuck, Athena’s presence added emotional depth, particularly as she struggled with the fallout from her mother’s death and her complicated feelings for Starbuck.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Born September 23, 1956, in Arcadia, California, Jensen studied at UCLA before launching a modeling career. She appeared in magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Vogue, and her striking looks earned her national recognition, including a spot on the cover of TV Guide. Battlestar Galactica was her first major acting role, giving her an immediate spotlight on prime-time television.
Life post-Galactica: After Galactica, Jensen had only a handful of additional acting credits, including appearances on The Love Boat (1979) and Wes Craven’s horror film Deadly Blessing (1981). However, health issues—reported as chronic fatigue syndrome—led her to step away from acting in the early 1980s. In later years, she shifted her focus to business ventures. She was an early supporter and business partner in Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s fashion line, The Row, and she has largely maintained a low public profile since leaving Hollywood.
Personal: Jensen was in a long-term relationship with Eagles co-founder Don Henley in the early 1980s. The pair were briefly engaged, and Henley’s 1982 solo album I Can’t Stand Still was dedicated to her. She has otherwise kept her private life away from the spotlight, with no publicly known marriages or children.
Noah Hathaway (Boxey)
Character: Boxey was the young son of Serina (Jane Seymour), who was taken in by Apollo following his mother’s death. Boxey often provided the “child’s-eye view” of life aboard the Galactica, bonding with his robotic daggit, Muffit.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Born November 13, 1971, in Los Angeles, Hathaway began acting as a child, appearing in commercials and on television. By the late 1970s he had built up credits including guest spots on Eight Is Enough, CHiPs and Mork & Mindy. Landing the role of Boxey on Battlestar Galactica brought him widespread recognition at just six years old.
Life post-Galactica: Hathaway continued acting into the 1980s, achieving his greatest fame as Atreyu in Wolfgang Petersen’s fantasy epic The NeverEnding Story (1984), a role that made him an international favorite among young audiences. He also appeared in the cult horror film Troll (1986) and TV projects like Laverne & Shirley. By his late teens, however, Hathaway largely stepped away from acting, focusing on dance, martial arts and teaching. In later years, he returned sporadically to film, appearing in independent movies such as Sushi Girl (2012) and Blue Dream (2013). He also became a regular guest at pop culture conventions, where he reconnected with Battlestar Galactica and NeverEnding Story fans alike.
Personal: Hathaway has pursued varied interests outside of Hollywood, including dance instruction, martial arts (he holds black belts in Shotokan karate and Tang Soo Do) and tattoo artistry. He has kept his personal life relatively private, but has spoken in interviews about balancing early fame with a desire for normalcy.
Herbert Jefferson Jr. (Lieutenant Boomer)
Character: Lieutenant Boomer was one of the Galactica’s Colonial Viper pilots and a close friend of both Apollo and Starbuck. Smart, steady and dependable, he often served as a voice of reason among the pilots and played a key role in several missions defending the fleet.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Born September 28, 1946, in Sandersville, Georgia, and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, Jefferson trained at Rutgers University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He began his television career in the early 1970s with guest spots on series like Ironside, Kojak and Police Story. He also appeared in the TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man (1976) and in films, including Private Duty Nurses (1971).
Life post-Galactica: Jefferson remained active in film and television, appearing in projects such as Apollo 13 (1995), Outbreak (1995) and TV series like Knight Rider and Airwolf. He also worked on stage and lent his voice to commercials and documentaries. In recent decades he has been a frequent guest at sci-fi conventions, warmly engaging with Battlestar Galactica fans and speaking about his pride in being part of the franchise. He has also supported veterans’ and charitable causes.
Personal: Jefferson has kept most details of his personal life private. He has occasionally spoken about his upbringing and career in interviews, but information about marriages or children has not been widely shared publicly.
Laurette Spang (Cassiopeia)
Character: Cassiopeia began Battlestar Galactica as a “socialator” (a futuristic courtesan) but quickly evolved into a more layered and sympathetic character. After the Cylon attack destroyed the Colonies, she transitioned into a med-tech aboard the Galactica, proving her intelligence and resilience. Her romance with Starbuck provided one of the show’s key emotional through-lines.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Born May 16, 1951, in Buffalo, New York, and raised in Michigan, Spang studied acting at Adrian College before being discovered by a Universal Studios talent scout. She became one of the studio’s contract players in the early 1970s, leading to a string of TV guest roles, among them Emergency!, Adam-12, Happy Days, The Streets of San Francisco and Quincy, M.E. before landing her breakout role on Battlestar Galactica.
Life post-Galactica: After the series, Spang continued acting on television, with guest appearances on Fantasy Island, The Love Boat and Magnum, P.I. Her acting career slowed in the 1980s, as she devoted more time to family life. In recent decades, she has reconnected with fans through interviews and appearances at conventions.
Personal: In 1981, Spang married actor John McCook, best known for his long-running role as Eric Forrester on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. The couple has three children together, including actress Molly McCook, who has built her own career in television. Laurette and John remain married as of 2025, marking over four decades together.
Terry Carter (Colonel Tigh)
Character: Colonel Tigh was second-in-command of the Battlestar Galactica under Commander Adama. A loyal, pragmatic officer, he often served as Adama’s sounding board and helped maintain discipline and order aboard the ship.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Born December 16, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York, Carter studied at St. John’s University and began his acting career on stage before moving to film and television. He gained recognition as Sergeant Joe Broadhurst, the partner of Telly Savalas’s Kojak, on Kojak (1973–78). He also appeared on sseries such as The Phil Silvers Show, McCloud and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, building a reputation as a versatile supporting player before being cast in Battlestar Galactica.
Life post-Galactica: After Galactica, Carter continued working as an actor but became increasingly active behind the camera as a producer and director. He produced documentaries and television programs, including projects exploring African American history and culture. He also served as CEO of Council for Positive Images, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to producing media promoting intercultural understanding.
Personal: Carter married Anna DeCosta in 1964, and they had two children. Following her passing in 1982, he later remarried. A multilingual speaker and a classically trained baritone, Carter’s interests extended far beyond acting, including music, cultural advocacy and education.
Anne Lockhart (Lieutenant Sheba)
Character: Lieutenant Sheba was a skilled Viper pilot and the daughter of Commander Cain of the Battlestar Pegasus. Introduced midway through the series, she quickly became a core member of the Galactica’s fighter squadron. Strong-willed, courageous, and principled, Sheba often sparred with Starbuck but also developed a close bond—and eventual romantic connection—with Apollo, giving the character an emotional arc that helped expand the show’s interpersonal drama.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Born September 6, 1953, in New York City, Anne Lockhart came from Hollywood royalty as the daughter of actress June Lockhart (Lassie, Lost in Space) and granddaughter of Gene Lockhart. She began acting in childhood, appearing in commercials and guest roles and at age 11 starred in the Disney film T Is for Tumbleweed (1963), which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject. Through the 1970s she appeared in TV shows such as The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Emergency!, Cannon and Police Story, honing her craft before her breakout as Sheba.
Life post-Galactica: After Battlestar Galactica, Lockhart remained a busy character actress on television, with appearances in Magnum, P.I., Airwolf, Knight Rider, Murder, She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder and many others. She also acted in films such as Troll (1986) and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988). In addition to on-screen work, she built a second career in voice acting for animation, commercials and video games, with credits including The Simpsons and Star Wars projects.
Personal: Lockhart married assistant director Adam C. Taylor in 1986, and the couple had two children. Tragically, Taylor died in 1994 after being struck by lightning while working on a film in Utah. Anne has never remarried and has focused on raising her family and continuing her acting career.
Jane Seymour (Serina)
Character: Serina was a prominent civilian character introduced in the Battlestar Galactica pilot movie. Originally a well-known news reporter, she survived the Cylon attack on the Colonies with her young son, Boxey. Her relationship with Apollo added emotional weight to the early episodes, and her tragic death from radiation poisoning in the two-part story “Lost Planet of the Gods” provided one of the series’ most poignant moments.
Before Battlestar Galactica: Born Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg on February 15, 1951, in London, England, Seymour trained as a dancer before an injury redirected her career to acting. She made her film debut in Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) and rose to international fame as Bond girl Solitaire in Roger Moore’s first James Bond film, Live and Let Die (1973). Throughout the 1970s she appeared in films such as Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) and TV projects like Captains and the Kings. Her appearance in Battlestar Galactica came at the height of her early career momentum.
Life post-Galactica: Seymour went on to enjoy a long and successful career in both film and television. Highlights include starring in Somewhere in Time (1980) opposite Christopher Reeve, East of Eden (1981) and the cult favorite miniseries War and Remembrance (1988–89). She became a household name in the 1990s as Dr. Michaela Quinn on the hit CBS series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993–1998), a role that earned her two Golden Globes and cemented her image as a strong female lead. Seymour has remained active into the 2000s and 2010s, appearing in films (Wedding Crashers, Love, Wedding, Marriage), television (Smallville, The Kominsky Method), and reality competitions (Dancing with the Stars). She also built a successful lifestyle brand around fashion, jewelry and home products.
Personal: Seymour has been married and divorced four times: to Michael Attenborough (1971–1973), Geoffrey Planer (1977–1978), David Flynn (1981–1992, with whom she had two children, Katherine and Sean) and actor/director James Keach (1993–2015, with whom she had twin sons, John and Kristopher). Outside of acting, she is an accomplished painter and philanthropist, involved in multiple charitable causes including child welfare and healthcare.
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