Actor Stacy Keach, known for playing Mike Hammer, has died at 85. His wife announced his death Tuesday.
Stacy Keach, the actor who starred as detective Mike Hammer on television and appeared in more than 200 screen roles over six decades, has died at 85.
His wife, Malgosia Tomassi Keach, announced Tuesday that he died at his home in Magdalenka, Poland. She said he had a long battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure, and described him as a fighter who faced his illness with courage.
Born Walter Stacy Keach Jr. on June 2, 1941, in Savannah, Georgia, Keach began his screen career in 1964 with a guest role on the ABC drama “Channing.” He played Hammer, the detective created by novelist Mickey Spillane, in the CBS series “The New Mike Hammer” from 1984 to 1989, in two TV movies, and again in the syndicated “Mike Hammer, Private Eye” in 1997 and 1998.
His film credits included “Fat City,” “American History X,” “The Bourne Legacy” and “Nebraska.” On television, he appeared in 11 episodes of “Blue Bloods” between 2016 and 2024 as Archbishop, later Cardinal, Kevin Kearnson. His last screen role was in the 2025 film “Jay Kelly,” where he played the father of George Clooney’s character.
Keach is survived by his wife, their daughters Karolina and Shannon Keach, and their families.