James Keach
Encyclopedia
James Keach is an American
actor
, producer
, and director
. He is the younger brother of actor
Stacy Keach
, Jr., and son of actor Stacy Keach, Sr.
, the son of Mary Cain (née Peckham), an actress, and Walter Stacy Keach, Sr., a drama coach, actor, writer, and producer. 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
.
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 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
.
In 2010, James Keach received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
.
. Their marriage produced a son, Kalen Keach. Keach was also married to actress and casting director Mimi Maynard.
He met his current wife, actress Jane Seymour
, while filming the 1992 television film Sunstroke. The couple have two children, twins John Stacy and Kristopher Steven. John is named after singer Johnny Cash, while Kristopher was named after Seymour's friend, actor Christopher Reeve, with whom she starred in Somewhere in Time
. He is also stepfather to Seymour's two children from her previous marriage, Katie and Sean Flynn.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He is the younger brother of actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Stacy Keach
Stacy Keach
Stacy Keach is an American actor and narrator. He is most famous for his dramatic roles; however, he has done narration work in educational programming on PBS and the Discovery Channel, as well as some comedy and musical...
, Jr., and son of actor Stacy Keach, Sr.
Stacy Keach, Sr.
Stacy Keach, Sr. was the stage name of Walter Stacy Keach , an American actor whose screen career spanned six decades. He and his wife, Mary Cain , were members of the Peninsula Players summer theater program during the 1930s. He may be best known for his role as Carlson in the television show Get...
Background
Keach was born in Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, the son of Mary Cain (née Peckham), an actress, and Walter Stacy Keach, Sr., a drama coach, actor, writer, and producer. Keach received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, M.F.A.
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
from the Yale School of Drama
Yale School of Drama
The Yale School of Drama is a graduate professional school of Yale University providing training in every discipline of the theatre: acting, design , directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, sound design, technical design and production, and theater...
, and is also a classically trained Shakespearean actor.
He is a patron of Meningitis UK
Meningitis UK
Meningitis UK is a national charity based in the United Kingdom. Its sole focus is on prevention and funding lifesaving research to eradicate all forms of meningitis.- History of Meningitis UK :...
.
Career
Best known as a producer and director, Keach has also acted, most famously portraying Jesse JamesJesse James
Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary...
in the 1980 film The Long Riders
The Long Riders
The Long Riders is a 1980 western film directed by Walter Hill. It was produced by James Keach, Stacy Keach and Tim Zinnemann and featured an original soundtrack by Ry Cooder. Cooder won the Best Music award in 1980 from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards for this soundtrack...
, a film which he co-wrote and produced. Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
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
Walk the Line
Walk the Line is a 2005 American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and based on the early life and career of country music artist Johnny Cash...
, which Keach produced. Keach also appeared in numerous supporting roles in films such as National Lampoon's Vacation
National Lampoon's Vacation
Vacation, sometimes referred as National Lampoon's Vacation, is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall...
.
He was the director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
of the 1993 TV series and 1999 film Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is an American post-Civil War western/drama series created by Beth Sullivan. Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, played by Jane Seymour, left Boston in search of adventure. She goes to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she establishes herself as doctor/adviser.The show ran on CBS...
which starred his wife, Jane Seymour, and other episodic television. Most recently he has directed and produced Waiting for Forever
Waiting For Forever
Waiting for Forever is a 2010 American romance film directed by James Keach, starring Rachel Bilson and Tom Sturridge. The film had a limited theatrical release beginning February 4, 2011. It was shot in Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah.-Plot:...
and Blind Dating
Blind Dating
Blind Dating is a 2006 romantic comedy film directed by James Keach and starring Chris Pine, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Anjali Jay, Jane Seymour, and Jayma Mays. The movie is produced by David Shanks and James Keach and is distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films LLC.During its release, the film received...
.
In 2010, James Keach received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor was founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and intended to pay homage to the immigrant experience. The medals honor the contribution made to America by immigrants and the legacy they left behind in the successes of their children and grand-children...
.
Personal life
Prior to marrying Jane Seymour he was married to Holly Collins, sister of Judy CollinsJudy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
. Their marriage produced a son, Kalen Keach. Keach was also married to actress and casting director Mimi Maynard.
He met his current wife, actress Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour (actress)
Jane Seymour, OBE is an English actress best known for her performances in the James Bond film Live and Let Die , East of Eden , Onassis: The Richest Man in the World , and the American television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman...
, while filming the 1992 television film Sunstroke. The couple have two children, twins John Stacy and Kristopher Steven. John is named after singer Johnny Cash, while Kristopher was named after Seymour's friend, actor Christopher Reeve, with whom she starred in Somewhere in Time
Somewhere in Time (film)
Somewhere in Time is a 1980 romantic science fiction film directed by Jeannot Szwarc. It is a film adaptation of the 1975 novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay...
. He is also stepfather to Seymour's two children from her previous marriage, Katie and Sean Flynn.