Stacy Keach, who played private detective Mike Hammer in two CBS series before playing authority figures in “Titus” and “Blue Bloods,” has died at the age of 85.
“It is with deep sadness and a broken heart that I announce the passing of my beloved husband, Stacy Keach, who passed away on November 10, 2026 in our family home in Magdalenka, Poland,” his wife Malgosia said in a statement.
“After a long and difficult battle with serious heart disease and heart failure, Stacy left this world peacefully,” the statement continued. “He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life. Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences around the world, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable void in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, unforgettable voice and love that he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”
Keach played Archbishop Kevin Kearns in Blue Bloods
Stacy Keach began her career on stage, earning praise for her work with the New York Shakespeare Festival. He also had a number of memorable film roles, including that of Sergeant Stedenko in Cheech and Chong’s stoner classic “Up in Smoke.” But TV fans know him better as Mike Hammer, the hardened private detective he first played in “Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer,” which debuted on CBS in 1984 and earned Keach a Golden Globe nomination. The series ran for two seasons before ending abruptly when Keach was sentenced to nine months in prison for drug trafficking, but was revived after its release with a 1986 TV movie and then a new series, “The New Mike Hammer”, which ran for one more season and ended in 1987.
Keach later starred as the title character’s alcoholic father in the Fox sitcom “Titus” and returned as Warden Henry Pope in “Prison Break.” He also recurred on the CBS drama “Blue Bloods” as Archbishop (and later Cardinal) Kevin Kearns, who often consulted with Tom Selleck’s character, Frank Reagan. Additionally, he narrated CNBC’s long-running true crime documentary series, “American Greed.” His other television credits include “The Blacklist,” “Man With a Plan” and “NCIS: New Orleans.”
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