American actor Stacy Keach, 85, died on Tuesday at his home in Magdalenka, Poland, after a prolonged battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.
His wife, Małgosia Tomassi Keach, announced the death in a statement, describing him as a courageous fighter whose resilience defined both his personal life and acting career. “It is with profound sadness and a broken heart that I announce the passing of my darling husband, Stacy. After a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure, Stacy peacefully departed this world,” she said.
Keach began his career on Broadway in the 1960s before moving into film in the 1970s. He earned early recognition for his role alongside Faye Dunaway in the 1971 film Doc and later became a household name as private investigator Mike Hammer in television series such as Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer and The New Mike Hammer. His screen work also included appearances in Prison Break, Blue Bloods, Titus, The Long Riders, Nebraska, The Bourne Legacy and the biblical miniseries Jesus of Nazareth, where he portrayed Barabbas. Over a career of roughly 60 years, Keach accumulated more than 200 film and television credits, earned a Tony Award nomination, and was celebrated as an accomplished interpreter of Shakespeare.
Keach came from a family steeped in the performing arts; his father, Stacy Keach Sr., was a respected actor and his brother, James Keach, is an actor and filmmaker. He had previously suffered a heart attack on stage in Chicago in 2017. He is survived by his wife, children Karolina and Shannon, grandchildren and other members of the extended family.
In her tribute, his wife said his unforgettable voice, remarkable spirit and love for his family would remain with them forever.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
