Why did Stacy Keach’s career crash and burn after such a stupendous start?

Hollywood didn't know what to do with him....he wasn't the kind of character actor Dustin, Al, And Bobby D were.....and his general vibe was good looking leading man, despite the clipped upper lip

Blanche was his Lady Macbeth...

He was deeply addicted to coke.

He narrates AMERICAN GREED - not a bad little gig.

What difference does it make at this point? America made her choice.

I get him and Powers Boothe mixed up

His career went down the toilet after he broke up with Judy Collins

I like Frank Vincent, but you know your career is over when you do a cameo appearance in a movie in which Frank Vincent is the lead. Few years ago. I think it was called Chicago Overload or some shit like that.....

Frank Vincent....name over the title. I think Stacy got the WITH credit

Because his name is Stacy.

I saw a live Q&A with "Nebraska" actors Bruce Dern and Stacy Keach

at a local film festival in the southwest in 2014. the film had been out for a while ..well received.

they both were very impressive and seemed to really appreciate the audience response...

from wiki........ Keach was scheduled to play Ernest Hemingway in Jim McGrath's one-man play Pamplona at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago from May 30 to June 25, 2017. Keach appeared in previews of Pamplona, May 19 through May 28, and was well received by audiences. On opening night, he suffered a mild heart attack on stage and the next day, Keach had bypass surgery.[18] On June 2, the Goodman Theatre announced that the entire run would be canceled after Keach's doctors advised a period of rest and recuperation.[19]

Keach returned to the role at The Goodman one year later, July 10 through August 18, 2018. Keach said it would fulfill an obligation "to the play, to the city and to myself".[20][21]

Resting fat face

Sniff sniff and the harelip.

Yikes!!! R2

What missed opportunities: Hamlet, Anthony, Macbeth, King Lear, Richard 3......see, he's perfect for Hemingway, but even if it was box office smash, it would have never made it to B'Way........Forgotten name.....

Keach stated that his time in prison in 1984 was the lowest point of his life. He forgot being in Butterfly with Pia Zadora.

Butterfly trailer.

I only recognize him for being the narrator of "World's Most Amazing Videos"

He turned up on [italic]the Blacklist[/italic] a few times playing Robert Vesco

Judy Collins was bad luck.

Druggos

In 1984, Customs & Excise officers arrested Keach at Heathrow Airport for importation of cocaine. Keach pleaded guilty, and served six months at Reading Prison.[32] Keach stated that his time in prison, which he described as the lowest point of his life, and the friendship he formed with a priest during that time led to his conversion to Catholicism. Subsequently, he and his wife met Pope John Paul II. His wife, Małgorzata Tomassi, had attended the same school in Warsaw as the pope.[33]

from wiki

He seemed dangerous. He always had an edge that seemed real, he scared me as an actor.

Loved him as the cunt Father in Titus, such an asshole.

His career was upstaged when his brother came out va-va-zoom.

Butterfly looks like a camp hoot

Butterfly was a notorious stinker and earned 10 Razzie nominations with Pia winning Worst Actress and Worst New Star.

I saw him in Hamlet--as Hamlet--in L.A. in '74. It was one of those "characters wander through the audience" productions, and he came down my aisle and had to jump over my legs (because I was afraid to move them and risk tripping him). He gave an intelligent, measured performance, diametrically opposite to a ranting Richard Burton type performance.

Who was he on Will & Grace?

Grace

I've always loved him as an actor. The first thing I saw him in was Mike Hammer and I thought he was sexy as hell in that. He was great in Fat City with a very young Jeff Bridges and in The Long Riders with his brother, James, and the Carradine, Quaid, and Guest brothers.

He was never a major star but he's had a very solid career, working regularly on stage, in movies and TV shows. I've just checked his IMDB page and he is still acting at the age of eighty-two.

He was very, very unattractive.

didn't he have a disfiguring accident?

R33, he was born with a hare lip and had multiple surgeries as a child to fix it. It was still obvious so, in adulthood, he grew a mustache to hide it.

He was sexy. And gruff.

Stop what you're doing everybody. r32 needs attention.

Caribe!

Hideous looking, and just really not a great actor.

He and John Amos were great as a gay couple on "Two and a Half Men."

He could play Leonardo DiCaprio's father now.

Thank you for sharing your minority opinion, Teri @ r38.

R39, I had no idea that was John Amos. I can't believe I didn't recognize his voice. I knew it was a celebrity, but I thought it was some ex-football player.

There's a You Tube interview with John Amos about his appearance on Two and a Half Men, and he said despite Charlie Sheen's off screen antics at the time, Sheen always showed up on set, on time and completely prepared, the consummate professional.

In that same interview, Amos said he loved working with Keach and loved their "gay relationship." That whole story arc on Two and a Half Men was hilarious, especially Keach's initial appearance as Charlie's fiancee's father.

He wasn't conventionally handsome but he was sexy and had tons of charisma. John Huston thought he was a great actor and enjoyed directing him in Fat City. He has been around for more than five decades and is still getting good roles in a very fickle industry.

R43 Fat City is just a great movie, the entire cast is great.

I would LOVE to have a bully come try to come after me. I’d flip the script…

“I loved it and wanted more! He said my mussy was SO MUCH tighter than your stretched out hole! We’re getting married the next time! You want some of this hole too??

I would also practice my crazy eyes and harpy smile look so people wouldn’t fuck with me.

How nice, r45...how nice for us *all*.

Like R31 I only discovered him through Mike Hammer and thought he was so handsome and gruff in it. Loved. I wonder what had happened to him.

I'd forgotten that Jane Seymour used to be his sister-in-law. I've always thought, judging from her interviews, that she could exhausting to be around.

Fun fact: his twin nephews are named after Jane & James' friends Johnny Cash and Christopher Reeve.

Fat City is a truly excellent film.

*Fat City*

Stacy played Wendell Schacter in the episode From Queer to Eternity. He teaches the McFarland acting method which he stole from Jack.

Love him on American Greed. Perfect voice.

Wasn't he cast in the Jason Miller role in The Exorcist but then Friedkin found Miller and I think he bought out Keach's contract.

Someone here will know the details since it is an Exorcist question.

Yes, Blatty wanted Keach, but Friedkin was set on Miller. A few years later, Blatty used Keach in the main role and Miller in a supporting role when he directed his first film, "The Ninth Configuration." Some people really like that movie, but I thought it was pretty bad.