Actor Stacy Keach dies at 85 after heart condition

Stacy Keach died on Tuesday at his home in Magdalenka, Poland, after a prolonged struggle with a serious heart condition and heart failure, his wife Malgosia Tomassi Keach said in a statement. The 85-year-old actor, celebrated for his portrayal of private eye Mike Hammer on television, also earned acclaim as a Shakespearean performer and earned a Tony nomination for his role as Buffalo Bill in the Broadway play "Indians."

Keach's career spanned film, television and stage. Highlights included roles in "The Ninth Configuration," Alexander Payne's "Nebraska," a recurring part as a New York archbishop on "Blue Bloods," and a recent turn as George Clooney's father in "Jay Kelly." He also narrated the documentary series "World's Most Amazing Videos" and appeared in the miniseries "Mistral's Daughter" and "Jesus of Nazareth."

In 1984, Keach was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport for attempting to smuggle cocaine, resulting in a nine-month sentence; he served six months before release. He later testified before Congress about his drug addiction and advocated for prevention programs.

Born in Savannah, Georgia, Keach studied at UC Berkeley, the Yale School of Drama and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He began his screen career in 1968 with "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" and later worked with director John Huston on "Fat City" and "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean."

Keach is survived by his wife Malgosia Tomassi Keach and his daughters Shannon and Karolina. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips posted on X, calling Keach a "consummate actor, gracious, giving and incredibly kind" and "one of the greats."