James Keach (born December 7, 1947) is an American actor, producer, and director. He is the younger brother of actor Stacy Keach, Jr., and son of actor Stacy Keach, Sr.
Keach was born in Savannah, Georgia, the son of Mary Cain (née Peckham), an actress, and Walter Stacy Keach, Sr., a drama coach, actor, writer, and producer. His brother, Stacy Keach, is an American actor and narrator. Keach received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama, and is also a classically trained Shakespearean actor.
He is a patron of Meningitis UK.
Career
Best known as a producer and director, Keach has also acted, most famously portraying Jesse James in the 1980 film The Long Riders, a film which he co-wrote and produced. Johnny Cash was so taken by the film that he and June Carter became close friends with Keach and asked him to be involved in the development of Walk the Line, which Keach produced. Keach also appeared in numerous supporting roles in films such as National Lampoon's Vacation. He also played a leading role in the 1985 comedy film Moving Violations as Deputy Hank Halik.
He was the director of the 1993 TV series and 1999 film Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman which starred his wife, Jane Seymour, and other episodic television. Most recently he has directed and produced Waiting for Forever and Blind Dating. He directed a documentary, Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, about country music singer Glen Campbell and his battle with Alzheimer's disease, that was released in October 2014.
He was married to Holly Collins, sister of Judy Collins. Their marriage produced a son, Kalen Keach. Sometime after his marriage to Collins ended, he married Mimi Maynard. Their marriage lasted until 1993.
In 1993, Keach married actress Jane Seymour. The couple had twin boys, born 30 November 1995, John Stacy and Kristopher Steven, who were named after family friends Johnny Cash and Christopher Reeve, and James's brother, actor Stacy Keach. On April 12, 2013, it was announced that the couple separated. The divorce was finalized in December 2015.
Filmography
Actor
2017
Ray Donovan (TV Series) as
Tom
- Shelley Duvall (2017) - Tom
- Shabbos Goy (2017) - Tom
- Sold (2017) - Tom
- Abby (2017) - Tom
2012
This One 'n That One (TV Series) as
Big Jim
2011
Perfectly Prudence (TV Movie) as
Mister
2005
Walk the Line as
Warden
2002
The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas (Podcast Series) as
Dr. William Loren
- The Lateness of the Hour (2002) - Dr. William Loren (voice)
2000
Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble (TV Movie) as
Dr. Huston
1998
The New Swiss Family Robinson as
Jack Robinson
1997
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV Series) as
Brent Currier
- Hostage (1997) - Brent Currier
1992
The Dance Goes On as
James Smith
1991
Murder in High Places (TV Movie) as
Levering
1990
Good Cops, Bad Cops (TV Movie) as
Frank Moran
1989
Options as
Ed Sloan
1989
The Experts as
Yuri
1987
The Man Who Broke 1, 000 Chains (TV Movie) as
Father Vincent Godfrey Burns
1986
Wildcats as
Frank
1985
Evil Town as
Chris
1985
Stand Alone as
Detective Isgrow
1985
Moving Violations as
Deputy Halik
1984
The Razor's Edge as
Gray Maturin
1983
National Lampoon's Vacation as
Motorcycle Cop
1983
Wishman (TV Movie) as
Galen Reed
1983
Love Letters as
Oliver / Anna's lover
1983
Magnum, P.I. (TV Series) as
Killer
- -By Its Cover (1983) - Killer (uncredited)
1982
Till Death Do Us Part (TV Movie) as
Robert Craig
1982
Thou Shalt Not Kill (TV Movie) as
Jeff Tompkins
1981
Big Bend Country (TV Movie) as
Ian McGregor
1981
The Legend of the Lone Ranger as
The Lone Ranger / John Reid (voice, uncredited)
1980
The Long Riders as
Jesse James
1980
The Great Cash Giveaway Getaway (TV Movie) as
Bondo
1979
Smokey and the Hotwire Gang as
Joshua
1979
Like Normal People (TV Movie) as
Robert Meyers Jr.
1979
Hurricane as
Sgt. Strang
1979
Quincy M.E. (TV Series) as
Gary Harlan
- A Small Circle of Friends (1979) - Gary Harlan
1978
The Next Step Beyond (TV Series) as
Chris Stabler
- The Haunted Inn (1978) - Chris Stabler
1978
Comes a Horseman as
Kroegh
1978
Lacy and the Mississippi Queen (TV Movie) as
Parker
1978
FM as
Lt. Reach
1978
Nowhere to Run (TV Movie) as
McEnerney
1977
The Blue Hotel (TV Movie) as
Johnnie
1975
Starsky and Hutch (TV Series) as
Ed Chambers / James March Wrightwood
- I Love You, Rosey Malone (1977) - Ed Chambers
- Lady Blue (1975) - James March Wrightwood
1977
Kill Me If You Can (TV Movie) as
Officer #1
1977
Black Sheep Squadron (TV Series) as
Captain Ted Gerslinger
- Trouble at Fort Apache (1977) - Captain Ted Gerslinger
1976
The Quest (TV Series) as
Blue
- Day of Outrage (1976) - Blue
1976
Six Characters in Search of an Author (TV Movie) as
The Son
1976
Cannonball! as
Wolfe Messer
1976
Death Play as
Steve
1976
Joe Forrester (TV Series)
- The Boy Next Door (1976)
1974
Cannon (TV Series) as
Pete Wallace / Johnny Cabe
- Cry Wolf (1976) - Pete Wallace
- The Man Who Couldn't Forget (1974) - Johnny Cabe
1975
Switch (TV Series) as
Dean 'Skip' Crowe
- The Body at the Bottom (1975) - Dean 'Skip' Crowe
1975
The Noah (voice)
1975
S.W.A.T. (TV Series) as
Arlie Warren
- A Coven of Killers (1975) - Arlie Warren
1975
Police Woman (TV Series) as
Del Franklin / Cliff Hummel
- Ice (1975) - Del Franklin / Cliff Hummel
1975
Sunburst as
Levon
1975
The Manhunter (TV Series) as
Reichart
- Man in a Cage (1975) - Reichart
1975
The Hatfields and the McCoys (TV Movie) as
Jim McCoy
1975
Miles to Go Before I Sleep (TV Movie) as
Man in Bar
1974
Movin' On (TV Series) as
Ron
- The Trick Is to Stay Alive (1974) - Ron
1974
The Rookies (TV Series) as
Stoney Putnam
- Legacy of Death (1974) - Stoney Putnam
1974
Ironside (TV Series) as
Walter Portman
- The Taste of Ashes (1974) - Walter Portman
1973
Kojak (TV Series) as
Ted Strong
- Girl in the River (1973) - Ted Strong
1973
Kung Fu (TV Series) as
Abe Jones
- The Assassin (1973) - Abe Jones
1973
Deadly Visitor (TV Movie) as
Virgil
1972
Orville and Wilbur as
Orville Wright
1971
NET Playhouse (TV Series) as
Orville Wright
- The Wright Brothers (1971) - Orville Wright
Director
-
A Quest for Rainbows (pre-production)
-
Steam Power (Documentary) (directed by) (post-production)
2020
Linda and the Mockingbirds (Documentary short)
2018
Turning Point (Documentary)
2018
Augie (Documentary)
2017
The Mix Up (Short)
2014
Glen Campbell: I'm Not Gonna Miss You (Music Video)
2014
Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me (Documentary)
2010
Waiting for Forever
2006
Blind Dating
2003
The District (TV Series) (2 episodes)
- Ten Thirty-Three (2004)
- The Devil You Know- (2003)
2004
JAG (TV Series) (1 episode)
- A Girl's Best Friend (2004)
2002
Disease of the Wind (Documentary)
2002
Mom's on Strike (TV Movie)
2001
Submerged (TV Movie)
2001
Blackout (TV Movie)
2001
Camouflage (directed by)
2000
Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble (TV Movie)
2000
Murder in the Mirror (TV Movie)
1999
Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie (TV Movie)
1998
A Marriage of Convenience (TV Movie)
1993
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV Series) (26 episodes)
- A New Beginning (1998)
- Happily Ever After (1998)
- Point Blank (1998)
- Homecoming (1997)
- Moment of Truth: Part 2 (1997)
- Moment of Truth: Part 1 (1997)
- His Father's Son (1997)
- Between Friends/A House Divided: Part 2 (1997)
- Between Friends/A House Divided: Part 1 (1997)
- The Most Fatal Disease (1997)
- When a Child Is Born: Part 2 (1996)
- When a Child Is Born: Part 1 (1996)
- Dead or Alive: Part 2 (1996)
- If You Love Someone- (1996)
- Change of Heart (1996)
- Washita: Part 2 (1995)
- Washita: Part 1 (1995)
- Pike's Peace (1995)
- Buffalo Soldiers (1994)
- The Offering (1994)
- Mike's Dream: A Christmas Tale (1993)
- Best Friends (1993)
- Saving Souls (1993)
- The Operation (1993)
- Running Ghost (1993)
- Law of the Land (1993)
1997
The Absolute Truth (TV Movie)
1995
The Stars Fell on Henrietta
1994
A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story (TV Movie)