Biography
Walter Stacy Keach Sr. (May 29, 1914 – February 13, 2003), known professionally as Stacy Keach Sr. was an American actor whose screen career spanned more than five decades. Keach was born in Chicago, Illinois. His career ranged from 1942 to 1997, with more than seventy movie and television appearances. He and his wife, the former Mary Cain Peckham, were members of the Peninsula Players summer theater program during the 1930s.Keach appeared in a 1955 episode of The Lone Ranger. Keach also appeared as Sheriff Ben Mason in the 1957 episode "Last Chance" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western television series, Colt .45. That same year, he was cast as Jed Hammer in the episode "Trail's End" of the ABC/WB western series, Sugarfoot, starring Will Hutchins. Keach was cast in 1957 and 1958 in five episodes of the NBC western series, The Californians as Bill Coleman. He also appeared in several episodes of the series Maverick as various lawmen, including the episode "Ghost Rider" with James Garner.
Keach is probably best known for his role as Carlson in the NBC sitcom, Get Smart. Carlson, a CONTROL scientist, was the inventor of such gadgets as an umbrella rifle (with a high-speed camera in the handle) and edible buttons—a parody of Q, who holds a similar position in the James Bond movies. By the time Keach took the role, however, he was the head of an industrial film company (a position he had held since 1948). Keach eventually gave up the role of Carlson when one too many clients were unable to reach him, and he had to respond, "I've been working in the CONTROL labs."In 1964 he appeared on Perry Mason in the role of Lt. Gibson in "The Case of the Frightened Fisherman" and in 1965 he again appeared on Perry Mason in the role of the trial court judge in "The Case of the Cheating Chancellor." In 1961, he appeared as Dr. Walter in the very first episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1974 he appeared in an episode of the James Stewart legal drama Hawkins.
Keach's son, Stacy Keach Jr. (usually billed as "Stacy Keach," exactly like his father), enjoyed an acting career with far greater name recognition than his father's. The younger Keach is perhaps best known for starring in the title role of the Mike Hammer television series in the 1980s and 1990s. Another son, James Keach, an actor, director, and producer, was married to the actress Jane Seymour.
Keach died of congestive heart failure at the age of 88 in Burbank, California and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).
Filmography
all 63
TV Shows 32
Movies 31
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993)
Running Mates (1992)
Fatal Friendship (1991)
Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis (1991)
False Identity (1990)
Pretty Woman (1990)
Freddy's Nightmares (1988)
Ultraman: The Adventure Begins (1987)
The Cartoon Adventures of Teen Wolf (1986)
Armed and Dangerous (1986)
Matlock (1986)
The Twilight Zone (1985)
Beauty and the Beast (1983)
Lies (1983)
St. Elsewhere (1982)
Superstition (1982)
Falcon Crest (1981)
Saturday the 14th (1981)
Mr. Merlin (1981)
Dynasty (1981)
Fighting Back: The Story of Rocky Bleier (1980)
The $5.20 an Hour Dream (1980)
Knots Landing (1979)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)
The Pirate (1978)
The Clone Master (1978)
Little Mo (1978)
Ants (1977)
The Incredible Hulk (1977)
The November Plan (1977)
Quincy, M.E. (1976)
Kingston (1976)
The Desperate Miles (1975)
Baretta (1975)
The Rockford Files (1974)
Harry O (1974)
The Parallax View (1974)
Kojak (1973)
Detroit 9000 (1973)
Hawkins (1973)
Vanished (1971)
Adam-12 (1968)
Johnny Belinda (1967)
Mannix (1967)
He & She (1967)
The F.B.I. (1965)
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
The FBI Story (1959)
Joy Ride (1958)
77 Sunset Strip (1958)
The Californians (1957)
Maverick (1957)
Perry Mason (1957)
Sugarfoot (1957)
The Big Land (1957)
Corrective Penalization (1956)
Procedure in the Traffic Courtroom (1956)
Court Business Administration (1956)
The Traffic Problem (1956)
Cheyenne (1955)
Navy Log (1955)
Cavalcade of America (1952)
The Hard Way (1943)
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1914-05-29
Deathday2003-02-13 (88 years old)
Birth PlaceChicago, United States of America
ChildrenStacy Keach, James Keach
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsWalter Stacy Keach, Stacy Keach, Stacey Keach
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
- Stacy Keach, Sr.
- Filmography
- Information
- Related Persons