Jimmy Keene

Last updated
Jimmy Keene
James Keene Author.png
Keene in 2018
Born
Kankakee, Illinois, U.S
Known forAuthor, writer, executive producer
Notable work
  • In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer and Dangerous Bargain for Redemption (2010)
  • Black Bird: One Man's Freedom Hides in Another Man's Darkness (2022)
  • The Chicago Phoenix: Jimmy Keene's Untold Story (2023)
The Wanderer: Bigamy, Deceit, and Murder. (2024)
Television Black Bird executive producer

James Keene is an American author, writer, executive producer and businessman. He is best known as a former operative for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during the case against suspected serial killer Larry Hall.

Contents

Keene has written several novels and produced a television series about his life experiences. In 2022, he released his second book, Black Bird: One Man's Freedom Hides in Another Man's Darkness. It was adapted into an award winning Apple TV+ series Black Bird in 2022, on which he acted as executive producer.

Early life

Keene was born on New Year's Eve in Kankakee, Illinois, an exurb of Chicago, to James “Big Jim” Keene and Lynn Keene. His father was a decorated police officer, and his mother owned a restaurant. [1] [2]

Keene attended Kankakee Eastridge High School [3] and then Triton College, where he was a standout athlete. He was captain of the football and wrestling teams, and lettered in track and field. He ended up at the University of Arizona where he earned another degree. [4] [5]

Keene became involved in the marijuana business as a teenager. He was charged in 1996 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on a conspiracy charge. Prior to his sentencing, Keene refused and declined any cooperating deals that would require him to act as an informant against anyone. [6] He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. [7]

FBI operative

Keene was a former operative for the FBI who worked to gather incriminating evidence on suspected serial killer Larry Hall. Approximately seven months into Keene’s sentence, the FBI and U.S. Attorney Beaumont approached him with an arrangement that would allow Keene to regain his freedom and have a fresh start with a clean record. [8]

The redemptive plan involved him being recruited and working as a post-trial FBI operative that would transfer to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP). [7] Keene was tasked with befriending Hall, a man suspected of raping and murdering dozens of young women between 1980 and 1994. [9] Law enforcement had only found the remains of one of Hall's victims, 15-year-old Jessica Roach. Hall confessed to the murder, but prosecutors lacked strong physical evidence for the case. After Hall retracted his confession and his attorneys filed an appeal, the FBI feared Hall's possible release was imminent. However, if Keene succeeded in obtaining new incriminating evidence about Hall while in MCFP, the U.S. Attorney and FBI agreed to end Keene's sentence and expunge his record. [10]

Keene’s FBI contacts arranged a secret cover for Keene, who then successfully transferred to the MCFP and earned Hall’s trust. Hall admitted to specific details about many of his crimes and murders in graphic details to Keene that no one but the killer could have known. On one occasion, Keene witnessed Hall with a map that appeared to show the locations of his victims’ remains, and Keene reported the information to his FBI contacts. [11]

The U.S. Attorney and FBI rewarded Keene’s efforts in 1996 with early release and a completely clean record. Based on the new evidence Keene uncovered, Larry Hall's appeal was denied. Hall remains in prison and has confessed to over twenty murders during his incarceration. [9] He is serving a life sentence without parole in Butner, North Carolina. [12]

Apple series

In 2008, Paramount Pictures and GK-Films purchased Keene's story rights to make a feature film at Paramount. Brad Pitt was attached to play the lead role as James "Jimmy" Keene, and Pitt’s production company Plan B was set to produce alongside Paramount and GK-Films. [13] [14] Apple TV eventually purchased Keene's story and life rights from Paramount for the miniseries Black Bird with Taron Egerton as Keene and Paul Walter Hauser as the serial killer Larry Hall.[ citation needed ]

In 2022, Apple TV+ released Black Bird. Keene was executive producer on the project and had a cameo appearance in the final episode. [11] Black Bird was nominated for three Golden Globe awards at the 80th Golden Globes Awards, with Taron Egerton, who portrayed Keene, being nominated for Best Actor in a Limited Series. [15]

In 2023, at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards Black Bird was nominated. Taron Egerton for his portrayal of Jimmy Keene for Best Supporting Actor in a limited movie series, and Paul Walter Hauser; who ultimately won The Critics' Choice Award for his portrayal as Larry Hall. [16] [17]

Also in 2023, the nominations for the 75th Emmys were announced. Apple TV's "Black Bird" received four nominations. The four nominations include the following: Natalie Kingston for Outstanding Cinematography in a Limited Anthology Series or Movie, Paul Walter Hauser as Larry Hall for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Anthology Series or Movie, Ray Liotta as Big Jim Keene for Outstanding Supporting Actor, and Taron Egerton as Jimmy Keene for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Anthology Series or Movie. [18] [19]

In 2024 at the 75th Emmy Awards, Apple TV's Black Bird, won two Emmys of the four previous Emmy nominations, in the category for Outstanding Cinematography in a Limited Anthology Series or Movie, and also in the category for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Anthology Series or Movie. Ray Liotta also was recognized posthumous for his outstanding role for Big Jim Keene. [20] [21]

Books

In 2010, Keene released an autobiographical account of his time working as an FBI operative helping to secure the conviction of serial killer Larry Hall. His book is titled In with the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption. [6] [22] In 2022, James Keene released his second book titled Black Bird: One Man's Freedom Hides in Another Man's Darkness. [23] [24] In 2023, James Keene released his third book, titled The Chicago Phoenix: Jimmy Keene's Untold Story, which is the follow-up to Black Bird and relates to Keene's early years in Chicago and gives further details about his unique FBI life and the surrounding events in MCFP and where his life has taken him to today. [25] [26] [27] In 2024, Keene released his fourth book, The Wanderer: Bigamy, Deceit and Murder, which is a suspenseful and thrilling, crime fiction. [28]

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References

  1. ↑ Preview: ‘To Catch a Serial Killer’ | CNN. 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2025-01-27– via www.cnn.com.
  2. ↑ "The Inside Man", Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, Lester Holt, Craig Melvin, Kate Snow, 2018-10-19, retrieved 2025-01-27{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ↑ "James Keene; Culling a Confession Brings Redemption". Daily Journal.
  4. ↑ "Daily Journal". 19 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "CNN Special Reports". CNN Special Reports.
  6. 1 2 Keene, James & Hillel Levin (2010). In with the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption. St. Martin's Press. ISBN   9781429965590.
  7. 1 2 Rosenblatt, Dana (July 5, 2011). "Recanted confession leaves missing girl's parents in limbo". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  8. ↑ "CNN.com - Transcripts". www.cnn.com.
  9. 1 2 Berry, Jo (July 22, 2022). "Black Bird - What the series leaves out about killer Larry Hall". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  10. ↑ Bisset, Jennifer (August 5, 2022). "'Black Bird' on Apple TV Plus: Ending Explained and All Your Questions Answered". CNET. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  11. 1 2 Craig, David (July 8, 2022). "Taron Egerton recalls Jimmy Keene's "surreal" "Black Bird" cameo". Radio Times. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  12. ↑ Simons, Roxy (July 15, 2022). "'Black Bird': What Happened to Larry Hall and Where Is He Now?". Newsweek. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  13. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 25, 2021). "Apple TV+ Nearing Order For 6-Part 'In With The Devil'; Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser Star, Michael R. Roskam Directs Dennis Lehane-Scripted Adaptation".
  14. ↑ "'Black Bird': Release Date, Cast, Trailer, and Everything We Know So Far". Collider. June 23, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Winners & Nominees 2023". Golden Globes. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  16. ↑ "'Pachinko' & 'Black Bird' win at Critics' Choice Awards". AppleInsider. 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  17. ↑ "Critics' Choice Award winner Paul Walter Hauser talks about his role in 'Black Bird'". KTLA. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  18. ↑ "Black Bird". Television Academy. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  19. ↑ Black Bird (TV Mini Series 2022) - Awards - IMDb . Retrieved 2025-01-27– via www.imdb.com.
  20. ↑ "Black Bird". Television Academy. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  21. ↑ Black Bird (TV Mini Series 2022) - Awards - IMDb . Retrieved 2025-01-27– via www.imdb.com.
  22. ↑ Simons, Roxy (July 8, 2022). "'Black Bird': Who Is James Keene and Where Is He Now?". Newsweek. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  23. ↑ Chevalier, Gilbert (December 4, 2022). ""Blackbird" de James Keene et Hillel Levin" ["Blackbird" by James Keene and Hillel Levin]. France Info (in French). Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  24. ↑ Keene, James & Hillel Levin (2022). Black Bird. St. Martin's Press. ISBN   9781250879493.
  25. ↑ Keene, James (2023). The Chicago Phoenix: Jimmy Keene's Untold Story (1st ed.). Salt Lake City: Silly Goat Media. ISBN   978-1961181007.
  26. ↑ "Black Bird vs. the True Story of James Keene and Larry Hall". HistoryvsHollywood.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  27. ↑ "Who Is James "Jimmy" Keene? Exclusive Interview - Comic Years". comicyears.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  28. ↑ "The Wanderer: Bigamy, Deceit, and Murder". Goodreads. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
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