Stacy Keach dies aged 85 at his home near Warsaw
American actor Stacy Keach, known for playing private detective Mike Hammer, has died at his home in Magdalenka, near Warsaw. He was 85. He had held Polish citizenship since 2015.
Author: Thames Compass editorial teamPublished: 2 min read
Stacy Keach died at his home in Magdalenka, near Warsaw. His wife, actress Małgorzata Tomassi, announced his death in a statement. According to her, the actor died after a long fight with heart disease. Rp.pl and Polsat News report that he died on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
Stage and screen career
The Associated Press regards Keach as one of the most accomplished American stage actors of his generation. On stage he played Hamlet, Richard III and King Lear, among other roles. In the 1970s he worked with director John Huston, appearing in Huston's films "Fat City" and "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean". He received a Tony nomination for his role as Buffalo Bill in the 1970 production "Indians".
His best-known role was the title character in the CBS series "Mike Hammer", broadcast from 1984 to 1987. He returned to the character in the late 1990s series "Mike Hammer, Private Eye". He won a Golden Globe for the miniseries "Hemingway". On film he appeared in "Nebraska", "Death Sentence" and "Escape from L.A.". He also voiced characters in "The Simpsons" and Disney animations.
A link to the United Kingdom
In 1984 the actor was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London for attempting to smuggle cocaine. A court sentenced him to nine months in prison, and he was released after six months. He later spoke openly about his addiction, met students and people in addiction treatment, and gave evidence before the US Congress. In 2019 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Polish connections
Keach was granted Polish citizenship in 2015. His wife, Polish actress Małgorzata Tomassi, was someone he met on the set of "Mike Hammer". For a time he lived with his family in Warsaw, and later bought a house in Magdalenka, where he spent his final years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Sources
- Stacy Keach has died. Acclaimed actor passes away in Poland aged 85
- Stacy Keach has died. Actor passed away at his home near Warsaw
- Stacy Keach has died. The legend of American cinema spent his final years in Poland
- Stacy Keach has died. He starred in "Brute Force", "Mister Kid" and "Escape from Los Angeles", among others
- Stacy Keach has died. The Hollywood actor passed away in Magdalenka near Warsaw, aged 85
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- Cover: „camera, film, demonstration, projector, film projector”, author: geralt, licence Pixabay Content License; cropped or resized.
- Photo 1: „woman, dark, light, shadow, art”, author: x-readingman, licence Pixabay Content License; cropped or resized.
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