Stacy Keach, Acclaimed Stage and Screen Actor, Dies at 85

Entertainment · First reported 11 Nov, 01:08 · Updated 01:40

Image: Wikimedia Commons · Ysherazi · CC BY-SA 4.0

Actor Stacy Keach, renowned for his portrayals of classic theatrical characters as well as tough-talking private eye Mike Hammer, has died at the age of 85. Keach passed away on Tuesday at his home in Poland after contending with a serious heart condition and heart failure. Spanning more than six decades across stage, television, and film, his career included acclaimed Shakespearean performances, a Golden Globe-winning turn as Ernest Hemingway, and diverse roles in popular screen projects.

Stacy Keach died on Tuesday at age 85 at his home in Poland following a battle with heart failure and a serious heart condition, his wife Malgosia Tomassi announced.
Keach gained broad mainstream fame playing hard-boiled fictional detective Mike Hammer across television series and made-for-TV films adapted from Mickey Spillane's novels.
Beyond television detective roles, he was an accomplished stage actor praised for classical roles such as King Lear, Hamlet, and Richard III, as well as an Obie- and Tony-nominated Broadway performer.
He won a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of author Ernest Hemingway in a 1988 television miniseries.
His television and movie credits spanned genres, including Fat City, American History X, The Long Riders, Titus, Blue Bloods, and Prison Break.