Jack Lord died on January 21, 1998, at age 73. This concise, sourced status note clarifies the date of death and the age reported at that time, drawing on verifiable public records. The following sections provide supporting biographical context, clarify common confusions, and relate his death to the long afterlife of the series he led. Because Jack Lord’s passing is frequently revisited by fans of the original Hawaii Five-O reboot, this explanation is framed as an evergreen status clarification for ongoing reference and reliable citation.
Documented death and age at death
Official records list January 21, 1998, as the date of death. Multiple outlets and reference databases from that period report age 73 at death. In biographical tables and authoritative summaries, this combination of date and age is treated as the baseline verified fact.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of death | January 21, 1998 | Obituary / public records |
| Age at death | 73 years | Obituary / public records |
| Place of death | Honolulu, Hawaii, USA | Reported location |
| Primary role | Steve McGarrett, Hawaii Five-O | Production credits |
Biographical context and career highlights
Born January 18, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, Jack Lord built a long career in stage, film, and television before landing the role that would define him for generations. He starred as Detective Captain Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-O from 1968 to 1980, establishing a performance standard that influenced how police procedurals were written and cast. His insistence on quality direction and tight storytelling helped the series sustain a high profile across twelve broadcast seasons.
Pre–Hawaii Five-O work
Before headlining the island crime drama, Lord appeared in notable films and guest roles, contributing to a recognizable presence long before McGarrett. His performances demonstrated disciplined craft and a preference for projects with strong directorial vision, foreshadowing the leadership he would bring to Hawaii Five-O.
Post–Hawaii Five-O activity
After the series ended in 1980, Lord remained selective about roles and public appearances, focusing on mentoring and stewardship of the show’s legacy. He lived for two decades beyond the finale, overseeing releases and watching how the series influenced later police dramas and global television markets.
Common confusion and misconception check
Because Hawaii Five-O was remade starting in 2010, some newer viewers conflate timelines or assume continuities that blur the original cast’s fates. Jack Lord’s death in 1998 is sometimes misdated or conflated with later cast departures. Checking dated records and authoritative biographies helps separate the original series legacy from contemporary reboots.
Death’s relationship to the series’ long afterlife
Jack Lord’s passing occurred well before the cultural revival sparked by the 2010 Hawaii Five-O remake. His death at 73 does not overlap with the modern iteration, but it anchors the era in which the original stories were conceived. The ongoing popularity of the reboot underscores how central his performance was to the template that later producers revisited and reimagined.
Legacy, remembrance, and citation guidance
Fans and researchers frequently reference Jack Lord’s age and death date when discussing the golden age of television police dramas and the construction of charismatic authority on screen. For reliable citation, consult contemporaneous obituaries, syndication materials from the late 1990s, and authoritative biographical databases that treat the January 21, 1998, death and age 73 as established fact.
Quick summary comparison
- Death date: January 21, 1998
- Reported age at death: 73 years
- Place: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
- Known for: Steve McGarrett on Hawaii Five-O
- Active years: 1940s–1998 (spanning stage, film, TV)
By anchoring discussion in these fixed points, readers can situate Jack Lord’s life and work within broader television history without ambiguity. The clarity around his age and death supports accurate references in both casual and scholarly contexts.