'The New Mike Hammer' Actor Stacy Keach's Life Saw the 80-Year-Old Suffer a Heart Attack in 2017

Stacy Keach has had an eventful life since “The New Mike Hammer” and shows no plans of slowing down. The 80-year-old is still more active than ever, even after witnessing his father’s tragic death.

Stacy Keach has been in the entertainment industry since he started pursuing acting in the late 1960s. Since his debut film, he has played a multitude of roles and has lent his skill to both the screen and the stage in his career.

Keach’s decades-long career has amounted to some impressive awards and nominations in his lifetime. However, the 80-year-old does not seem to think those accomplishments are enough for him to sit back now.

Keach grew up with his father as a direct link to the entertainment industry he would later thrive in. The actor’s father appeared in numerous commercials, movies, TV, and radio shows in his five-decade-long career.

Keach even recalls his father advising him on surviving in the industry before he broke into it. However, the heartfelt moment took a comedic yet endearing turn when he revealed the words of advice from his dad:

“My father (Walter Stacy Keach Sr.), God bless him, was in the business. He told me that I didn’t make it by the time I was 27, I should just forget it,”

Keach also revealed that his dad advised him to excel in all genres, practices, and platforms to become great. It seems as if the senior was giving the best advice he could since he did it all in his 55 year-long span.

Stacy Keach Sr. portrayed the recurring role of Professor Carlson on “Get Smart” and Judge Webster in “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” Keach Sr. also took up behind-the-scenes roles as a producer and director in his career.

Keach Sr. was married to Keach’s mother for 67 years before losing his 14 month battle with heart illness. He was survived by his two famous sons, his wife, and eight grandchildren at the time of his death in 2003.

Keach Sr. was active in the entertainment industry until he passed away at 88-years-old, which seems to be his son’s path now. His junior has not taken a break from our screens and stages since starting his career.

However, many suspected that the end was near for Keach when he suffered from an eerily familiar health concern. Like father, like son, Keach also suffered complications with his heart as he began aging.

Keach appeared to be confused during his premiere performance of “Pamplona” in Chicago. Soon, medical tests showed that the actor was suffering a heart attack on stage while he was portraying Ernest Hemmingway.

The then 76-year-old was reportedly in high spirits when visited just days after suffering the heart attack. Play director Robert Falls even revealed that the actor was studying the “Pamplona” script when he went to see him in hospital.

Although many people at Keach’s age would take some downtime after such a health scare, he kept things going. He once revealed that the discipline that comes with playing golf is what helps keep him sharp.

Keach also has his family of other talented actors to keep him on top of his game. His brother, James Keach, is also a famous actor who is married to actress Jane Seymour, who worked with the late Stay Keach Sr.

Keach also has two children from his fourth marriage to Polish model and actress Malgosia Tomassi. His children, Karolina and Shannon Keach, often accompany him to red carpet events despite not showing interest in the industry yet.

Keach’s most recent work is on the CBS comedy “Man With A Plan,” starring Matt LeBlanc. The show’s fourth season experienced major success last year as more people watched TV during the lockdown.