Star Keach recovering from stroke

Keach's many films include Fat City, W and American History X

Actor Stacy Keach is recuperating in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke, his publicist has confirmed.

He said the 67-year-old had sustained "a very mild stroke with no impairment of his motor or speech abilities."

The actor, he continued, "remains in a Los Angeles hospital for observation and routine precautionary procedures."

Keach had been appearing as President Richard Nixon in a touring production of Frost/Nixon, running at the Ahmanson Theatre until the end of the month.

Its producers, said his spokesman, "look forward to his speedy recovery and to his return to the show as soon as he is able".

Award-winning

Keach, best known for his role as TV detective Mike Hammer, was admitted to an undisclosed hospital on Tuesday.

Born in Savannah, Georgia in 1941, he was recently seen in Oliver Stone's W and the independent film Honeydripper.

Understudy Bob Ari has taken Keach's role in Frost/Nixon, which continues at the Ahmanson until 29 March.

Keach's role was originally played by Frank Langella in Peter Morgan's award-winning play and, subsequently, the Oscar-nominated film.

According to the Hollywood Reporter's critic, the late Richard Nixon "might be pleasantly surprised to see how well Stacy Keach has treated him".