US actor Stacy Keach dies at 85

American actor Stacy Keach, one of the most prominent figures in cinema, television, and theater, died on Tuesday at the age of 85, following a long artistic career during which he became renowned for portraying detective Mike Hammer and American writer Ernest Hemingway.

Reuters quoted his wife, Polish actress Malgosia Tomassi, telling Variety magazine that Keach died in Poland after a long struggle with a serious heart disease and heart failure.

Tomassi said her husband was not only a distinguished actor admired and loved by audiences around the world, but also her life partner and the heart of their family.

Throughout his career, Keach performed dozens of roles in film, television, and theater, including his notable portrayal of Barabbas in the TV series “Jesus of Nazareth” and former U.S. President Richard Nixon in the acclaimed play “Frost/Nixon.”

He also excelled in classical theater, particularly in Shakespearean plays, taking on leading roles in “King Lear” and “Hamlet.”

Keach’s name became particularly associated with the character of detective Mike Hammer, which he portrayed in TV series and films adapted from novels by author Mickey Spillane, marking one of the highlights of his artistic career.

His career faced a setback in the 1980s when he was sentenced to six months in prison in England after more than 30 grams of cocaine were found in his possession at London’s Heathrow Airport, before he returned to acting.

Keach later revealed his past struggles with addiction, stating in a 2013 interview with Fox News that his arrest had saved his life.

Among his most notable artistic achievements was his portrayal of writer Ernest Hemingway in a 1988 television miniseries, a role that earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination, remaining one of the standout works of his decades-long career.