Stacy Keach has died at 85. His wife, Malgosia Tomassi Keach, said he died at home in Magdalenka, Poland, on Tuesday, November 10, according to The Associated Press. Entertainment Weekly also reported his death and the family’s statement.

For many television viewers, his name immediately brings Mike Hammer to mind. But that familiar role is only one starting point for a career that moved between detective television, literary drama, comedy and the stage.

The familiar detective and the award-winning writer

The Golden Globes’ official career record lists his starring role in Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer from 1984 to 1987 and his 1985 nomination for television drama actor.

His portrayal of Ernest Hemingway in the 1988 television production Hemingway brought a Golden Globe win in 1989. The different dates matter when looking it up: 1988 identifies the production, while 1989 is the award year.

Those two roles offer a useful first comparison. One is an established fictional detective; the other is a historical writer. Looking at both avoids reducing Keach’s television work to the same character repeated throughout his career.

Where to begin with the films

His film credits in the awards body’s biography include John Huston’s Fat City (1972), the Cheech and Chong comedy Up in Smoke (1978), The Long Riders (1980), The Bourne Legacy (2012) and Nebraska (2013).

Rather than trying to watch everything at once, choose a format you already enjoy, then try a contrasting title. Someone arriving from a crime series might choose a comedy next; a film viewer could start with Hemingway to explore the television side.

The stage belongs in the picture

Keach also played Shakespearean roles including Hamlet and King Lear, and portrayed Richard Nixon in the touring production of Frost/Nixon, as the AP’s career account records. That stage work is an important part of his legacy even for audiences who encountered him mainly on screen.

Availability varies by country and service. For Canadian viewers, search by the exact title and year in local streaming or library catalogues before subscribing or renting. A clip or a tribute montage is not the same as access to the complete production.