James Keach

Biography

James Keach is an American actor, director and producer who has been active in Hollywood since the early 1970s. He is widely recognized for his work on the classic western film The Long Riders (1980) and for his award-winning documentaries. He is the son of actor Stacy Keach and the younger brother of actor Stacy Keach, Jr.

Career Overview

James Keach has 103 screen credits in a career dating back to 1967. Their work spans 4 cinematic universes — most prominently Prudence Collection with 1 titles. Signature works include Moving Violations, The Razor's Edge, National Lampoon's Vacation. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Acting
Gender: male
Known Credits: 103
Birth Date: 1947-12-07 00:00:00
Birth Place: Savannah, Georgia, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 4 universes

Prudence Collection (1 titles)
National Lampoon Vacation (1 titles)
National Lampoon's Vacation Collection (1 titles)
Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Collection (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Brian Doyle-Murray (2 collaborations)
Randy Quaid (2 collaborations)
John Murray (1 collaborations)
Jennifer Tilly (1 collaborations)
Brian Backer (1 collaborations)
Ned Eisenberg (1 collaborations)
Clara Peller (1 collaborations)
Wendie Jo Sperber (1 collaborations)
Nedra Volz (1 collaborations)
Fred Willard (1 collaborations)

Credits

writing (4 credits)
- Untitled Linda Ronstadt Biopic
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2026
- The Forgotten
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1989
- The Long Riders
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1980
- Slashed Dreams
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1975
production (24 credits)
- Untitled Linda Ronstadt Biopic
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2026
- Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2026
- Brothers Under Fire
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2026
- Taking Care
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2024
- Linda and the Mockingbirds
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2020
- David Crosby: Remember My Name
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2019
- Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2014
- Waiting for Forever
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2010
- Blind Dating
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2006
- Walk the Line
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2005
- Blackout
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2001
- Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2000
- Murder in the Mirror
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2000
- A Memory in My Heart
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1999
- A Marriage of Convenience
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1998
- The Absolute Truth
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1997
- A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1994
- Praying Mantis
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1993
- False Identity
  
  associate producer
  
  production
  
  1990
- The Forgotten
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1989
- The Experts
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1989
- Armed and Dangerous
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1986
- A Winner Never Quits
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1986
- The Long Riders
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1980
actors (49 credits)
- Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Turning Point
  narrator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Perfectly Prudence
  Mister
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Walk the Line
  Warden
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble
  Dr. Huston
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- The New Swiss Family Robinson
  Jack Robinson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
  
  - Hostage (1997) ... Brent Currier actor actors
  
  1993
- The Dance Goes On
  James Smith
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- Murder in High Places
  Ronald Levering
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1991
- Good Cops, Bad Cops
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- The Experts
  Yuri
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1989
- The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains
  Father Vincent Godfrey Burns
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1987
- Evil Town
  Christopher Fuller
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1987
- Wildcats
  Frank Needham
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1986
- Stand Alone
  Detective Isgrow
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- Moving Violations
  Deputy Halik
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- The Razor's Edge
  Gray Maturin
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- National Lampoon's Vacation
  Motorcycle Cop
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1983
- Wishman
  Galen Reed
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1983
- Love Letters
  Oliver Andrews
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1983
- Till Death Do Us Part
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1982
- Thou Shalt Not Kill
  Jeff Tompkins
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1982
- The Long Riders
  Jesse James
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1980
- The Great Cash Giveaway Getaway
  Bondo
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1980
- Smokey and the Hotwire Gang
  Joshua
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- Like Normal People
  Robert Meyers, Jr.
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- Hurricane
  Sgt. Strang
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- Comes a Horseman
  Emil Kroegh
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
- Lacy and the Mississippi Queen
  Parker
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
- FM
  Lt. Reach
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
- Nowhere to Run
  McEnerney
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
- Kill Me If You Can
  Officer #1
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1977
- The Blue Hotel
  Johnnie
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1977
- Six Characters in Search of An Author
  The Son
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- Death Play
  James
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- Cannonball
  Wolfe Messer
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- Quincy, M.E.
  
  - A Small Circle of Friends (1979) ... actor actors
  
  1976
- Slashed Dreams
  Levon
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- The Hatfields and the McCoys
  Jim McCoy
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- Miles To Go Before I Sleep
  Man In Bar
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- Dr. Shagetz
  Christopher Fuller
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- Starsky & Hutch
  
  - I Love You, Rosey Malone (1977) ... actor actors
  
  - Lady Blue (1975) ... actor actors
  
  1975
- Police Woman
  
  - Bloody Nose (1975) ... actor actors
  
  1974
- The Deadly Visitor
  Virgil
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1973
- Kojak
  
  - Girl in the River (1973) ... Ted Strong actor actors
  
  1973
- Kung Fu
  
  - The Assassin (1973) ... Abe Jones actor actors
  
  1972
- Cannon
  
  - The Man Who Couldn't Forget (1974) ... actor actors
  
  1971
- Ironside
  
  - A Taste of Ashes (1974) ... actor actors
  
  1967
directing (26 credits)
- Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- Taking Care
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2024
- Linda and the Mockingbirds
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2020
- Turning Point
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2018
- Augie
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2017
- Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2014
- Waiting for Forever
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2010
- Blind Dating
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2006
- Mom's on Strike
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2002
- Submerged
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2001
- Blackout
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2001
- Camouflage
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2001
- Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2000
- Murder in the Mirror
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2000
- The District
  
  - Ten Thirty-Three (2004) ... director directing
  
  - The Devil You Know... (2003) ... director directing
  
  2000
- Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1999
- A Marriage of Convenience
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1998
- The Absolute Truth
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1997
- The Stars Fell on Henrietta
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1995
- JAG
  
  - A Girl's Best Friend (2004) ... director directing
  
  1995
- A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1994
- Praying Mantis
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1993
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
  
  - A New Beginning (1998) ... director directing
  
  - Happily Ever After (1998) ... director directing
  
  - Point Blank (1998) ... director directing
  
  - The Homecoming (1997) ... director directing
  
  - Moment of Truth (2) (1997) ... director directing
  
  1993
- Sunstroke
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1992
- False Identity
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1990
- The Forgotten
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1989

Content sources

Related entry on Wikidata (Q1680660), public domain (CC0).