'Mike Hammer,' 'Fat City' Star Was 85

Key Points:

• Stacy Keach, renowned actor known for roles in “Fat City” and “The New Mike Hammer,” died at 85 in Poland after battling a serious heart condition, confirmed by his wife Małgosia Tomassi.
• Keach had a prolific career spanning stage, film, and TV, with notable appearances in “The Bourne Legacy,” “Nebraska,” “Ray Donovan,” and voice work on “The Simpsons,” as well as a Tony nomination and multiple stage awards.
• He was best known for his portrayal of private detective Mike Hammer in various TV series and movies, despite a 1984 cocaine possession arrest that led to six months in prison and influenced his conversion to Roman Catholicism.
• Born in Savannah, Georgia, Keach came from an acting family, graduated from UC Berkeley and Yale School of Drama, and was a Fulbright Scholar; his early career included acclaimed stage performances and Obie Awards.
• Keach is survived by his wife Małgosia Tomassi, their children Shannon and Karolina, and his brother James Keach, with whom he shared a long-standing presence in the entertainment industry.