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James KeachAmerican actor, director, producer
Date of Birth: 07.12.1947
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of James Keach
- Early Acting Career
- Debut in Film
- Transition to Directing
- Producer and Director
- Personal Life
Biography of James Keach
James Keach is an American actor, director, and producer, born on December 7, 1947, in the Flushing district of New York. He initially appeared on stage in various roles and participated in the prestigious Shakespeare Festival in New York before transitioning to the small screen, where he portrayed Orville Wright in the Wright Brothers' biographical film produced in 1972.
Early Acting Career
In the beginning, James Keach was only cast in supporting roles, unlike his older brother Stacy, due to his slender physique, often playing different villains. However, he eventually moved from the background to the director's chair and started producing projects for television and the big screen.
Debut in Film
James made his debut in feature films with a small role in the 1975 movie "Sunburst," followed by a supporting role in "Death Play" (1976). He then appeared in Alan Pakula's film "Comes A Horseman" (1978) and Jean Troell's remake of "Hurricane" (1979). One of Keach's most significant works was Walter Hill's film "The Long Riders" (1980), in which he and his brother Stacy collaborated on the screenplay and also acted in the Western.
Transition to Directing
Although "The Long Riders" received excellent reviews and was considered a classic of the genre, it had minimal impact on James Keach's personal success and the development of his career. Producers continued to offer him supporting roles, such as a motorcycle cop in the film "National Lampoon's Vacation" (1983), Katherine Hicks' husband in the less successful remake of "The Razor's Edge" (1984), and a Gestapo officer in "Moving Violations" (1985).
Producer and Director
Eventually, Keach decided to try his hand at being behind the camera. With the support of Brian Grazer, he produced the film "Armed And Dangerous" (1986), a comedy starring John Candy and Eugene Levy. Later, Keach made his directorial debut in feature films and found success when he directed television shows. He established a relationship with the USA Network and started working on TV movies such as "The Forgotten" (1989) and "Praying Mantis" (1993).
Personal Life
During the production of the film "Sunstroke," Keach fell in love with the lead actress, Jane Seymour. They got married in 1993, after which James frequently cast Jane in television series.
