James Keach (born December 7, 1947Roberts, Jerry (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors, Volume 1. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press. p. 298. .) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the younger brother of actor Stacy Keach and son of actor Stacy Keach Sr.

Early life and education James Peckham Keach was born in Savannah, Georgia, the son of Mary Cain (nee Peckham), an actress, and Walter Stacy Keach Sr., a drama coach, actor, writer, and producer. His brother, Stacy Keach, is an actor and narrator. Keach received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in 1970, a M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama, and is also a classically trained Shakespearean actor.

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 with Chevy Chase, The Razor's Edge opposite Bill Murray, and Wildcats with Goldie Hawn. 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 won a Grammy Award on March 14, 2021, as producer for the documentary Linda Ronstadt The Sound of My Voice.

In 2010, Keach received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Personal life Keach 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 November 30, 1995, John Stacy and Kristopher Steven, who were named after family friends Johnny Cash and Christopher Reeve, and James's brother, actor Stacy Keach. In June 2007, both Keach and Seymour became patrons of Meningitis UK. On April 12, 2013, it was announced that the couple separated. The divorce was finalized in December 2015.

In 2024, Keach married Nancy Falkin Lynn at their home in Malibu.

Filmography

Films TitleYearRoleNotes Slashed Dreams1975LevonThe Noah (voice)Cannonball 1976Wolfe MesserDeath Play SteveFM1978Lt. ReachComes a HorsemanEmil KroeghHurricane 1979Sgt. StrangSmokey and the Hotwire GangJoshuaThe Long Riders 1980Jesse JamesThe Legend of the Lone Ranger 1981The Lone Ranger / John Reid (voice)Love Letters 1983Oliver / Anna's loverNational Lampoon's Vacation Motorcycle CopThe Razor's Edge1984Gray MaturinMoving Violations 1985Deputy HalikStand AloneDetective IsgrowWildcats1986FrankEvil Town1987Christopher FullerThe Experts1989YuriOptionsEd SloanThe Dance Goes On 1992James SmithThe New Swiss Family Robinson 1998Jack RobinsonWalk the Line 2005WardenTurning Point2017Narrator Documentary film

Narrative films +TitleYearDirectorProducerWriterNotesSunburst1975rowspan=4 rowspan=2 The Long Riders 1980 Armed and Dangerous1986rowspan=4 The Experts1989rowspan=11 False Identity1990 The Stars Fell on Henrietta1995 Camouflage2001 Walk the Line 2005 rowspan=3 Blind Dating2006rowspan=2 Waiting for Forever2010Bereave2015 The Mix Up2017rowspan=2 rowspan=2 Short filmA Quest for RainbowsTBATough as They ComeTBA

Documentaries TitleYearDirectorProducerDisease of the Wind2002rowspan=4 Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me2014rowspan=3 Turning Point2017Augie2018David Crosby: Remember My Name2019rowspan=2 Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voicerowspan=4 Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul2026rowspan=2 Steam PowerTBAHorn MakerTBA

Television films

TitleYearRoleDeadly Visitor1973VirgilMiles to Go Before I Sleep1975Man in BarThe Hatfields and the McCoysJim McCoySix Characters in Search of an Author1976The SonKill Me If You Can1977Officer #1The Blue HotelJohnnieNowhere to Run1978McEnerneyLacy and the Mississippi QueenParkerLike Normal People1979Robert Meyers Jr.The Great Cash Giveaway Getaway1980BondoBig Bend Country1981Ian McGregorThou Shalt Not Kill1982Jeff TompkinsTill Death Do Us PartRobert CraigWishman1983Galen ReedThe Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains1987Father Vincent Godfrey BurnsGood Cops, Bad Cops1990Frank MoranMurder in High Places1991LeveringEnslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble2000Dr. HustonPerfectly Prudence2011Mister

Filmmaking credits TitleYearDirectorProducerWriterA Winner Never Quits1986 rowspan=2 The Forgotten1989 rowspan=6 Sunstroke1992 rowspan=11 Praying Mantis1993rowspan=8 A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story1994The Absolute Truth1997A Marriage of Convenience1998A Memory in My Heart1999 Murder in the Mirror2000rowspan=5 Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny KembleBlackout2001Submergedrowspan=2 Mom's on Strike2002

Television series

TitleYear(s)RoleNotesNET Playhouse1971Orville WrightEpisode: "The Wright Brothers"Kung Fu1973Abe JonesEpisode: "The Assassin"KojakTed StrongEpisode: "Girl in the River"Ironside1974Walter PortmanEpisode: "The Taste of Ashes"The RookiesStoney PutnamEpisode: "Legacy of Death"Movin' OnRonEpisode: "The Trick Is to Stay Alive"Cannon1974–1976Johnny Cabe / Pete Wallace2 episodesThe Manhunter1975ReichartEpisode: "Man in a Cage"Police WomanCliff Hummel / Del FranklinEpisode: "Ice"S.W.A.T.Arlie WarrenEpisode: "A Coven of Killers"SwitchDean 'Skip' CroweEpisode: "The Body at the Bottom"Starsky & Hutch1975–1977James March Wrightwood / Ed Chambers2 episodesJoe Forrester1976UnknownEpisode: "The Boy Next Door"The QuestBlueEpisode: "Day of Outrage"Baa Baa Black Sheep1977Captain Ted GerslingerEpisode: "Trouble at Fort Apache"The Tony Randall ShowBastianEpisode: "Bobby vs. Michael"The Next Step Beyond1978Chris StablerEpisode: "The Haunted Inn"Quincy M.E.1979Gary HarlanEpisode: "A Small Circle of Friends"CHiPs1981Motorcycle LAPD CopEpisode: "Karate"Magnum, P.I.1983Killer (uncredited)Episode: "...By Its Cover"Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman1997Brent CurrierEpisode: "Hostage"This One 'n That One2012Big JimUnknown episodesRay Donovan2017Tom4 episodes

Filmmaking credits +TitleYear(s)DirectorProducerNotesHull High1990rowspan=7 Episode #1.7The Young Riders1990–1992 Director (9 episodes) / Producer (11 episodes)Covington Cross1992rowspan=2 2 episodesJack's Place1993Episode: "The Pipes Are Calling"Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman1993–1999 Director (26 episodes) / Producer (The Movie)The District2003-2004rowspan=2 2 episodesJAG2004Episode: "A Girl's Best Friend"The Quitter Show2009rowspan=2 2 episodesThis One 'n That One2012 Urknown episodes

References

External links

Biography1