{
  "id": 19483330,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: 'Mike Hammer', 'Prison Break' star Stacy Keach dies aged 85",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/showbiz-mike-hammer-prison-break-star-stacy-keach-dies-aged-85",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-11T10:54:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/11/1575591/showbiz-mike-hammer-prison-break-star-stacy-keach-dies-aged-85"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prominent American stage and screen actor, Stacy Keach, who portrayed the iconic television private detective Mike Hammer, has passed away at the age of 85. His wife, Malgosia Tomassi Keach, revealed that he died at their home in Magdalenka, Poland, after a prolonged struggle with a severe heart condition. Keach had previously fallen ill during a performance in Chicago in 2017 when he suffered a heart attack. Born in Savannah, Georgia, to a family of actors, Keach received his education from UC Berkeley, the Yale School of Drama, and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His illustrious career encompassed both stage and screen, with notable roles such as Hamlet, Richard III, and King Lear, earning him a Tony Award nomination. On film, Keach's versatility was showcased in films ranging from Cheech and Chong comedies to roles in American History X and The Bourne Legacy. Despite his extensive range, Keach was forever connected to his portrayal of Mike Hammer, a modern-day hero fighting for the underdog. In 1984, his career took an unexpected turn when he was arrested for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Britain, resulting in a nine-month prison sentence. Keach used this experience to testify before Congress about substance abuse and educate others about the dangers of addiction. He continued to draw inspiration from his time in British prison when playing a warden in the television series Prison Break. Keach was married four times and leaves behind his wife and two children, Shannon and Karolina.",
  "summary": "LONDON: Acclaimed American stage and screen actor, Stacy Keach, best known as television’s hard-boiled private eye Mike Hammer, has died. He was 85.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TVLine",
        "title": "Stacy Keach, Mike Hammer And Blue Bloods Star, Dead At 85",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/stacy-keach-mike-hammer-and-blue-bloods-star-dead-at-85",
        "published": "2026-11-11T00:35:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Forbes",
        "title": "Stacy Keach, ‘Mike Hammer,’ And ‘Blue Bloods’ Star, Dies At 85",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/stacy-keach-mike-hammer-and-blue-bloods-star-dies-at-85",
        "published": "2026-11-11T00:55:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NYT Arts",
        "title": "Stacy Keach, Actor Who Embodied Hamlet and Mike Hammer, Dies at 85",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/stacy-keach-actor-who-embodied-hamlet-and-mike-hammer-dies-at-85",
        "published": "2026-11-11T01:08:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IndieWire",
        "title": "Stacy Keach, ‘Fat City’ and ‘Mike Hammer’ Star, Dead at 85",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/stacy-keach-fat-city-and-mike-hammer-star-dead-at-85",
        "published": "2026-11-11T01:20:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Rolling Stone",
        "title": "Stacy Keach, ‘Mike Hammer’ and ‘Fat City’ Star, Dead at 85",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/stacy-keach-mike-hammer-and-fat-city-star-dead-at-85",
        "published": "2026-11-11T02:31:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "Mike Hammer star and stage actor Stacy Keach dead at 85",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/mike-hammer-star-and-stage-actor-stacy-keach-dead-at-85",
        "published": "2026-11-11T03:28:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ynetnews Culture",
        "title": "Stacy Keach, ‘Mike Hammer’ and ‘Prison Break’ star, dies at 85",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/stacy-keach-mike-hammer-and-prison-break-star-dies-at-85",
        "published": "2026-11-11T07:14:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Stacy Keach, star of \"Mike Hammer\" TV series and stage, dies at 85",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/stacy-keach-star-of-mike-hammer-tv-series-and-stage-dies-at-85",
        "published": "2026-11-11T10:37:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}