Robert Blake, the acclaimed Emmy Award-winning actor whose decades-long career in film and television was tragically overshadowed by a high-profile murder trial, has passed away at the age of 89.
His daughter, Delinah Blake Hurwitz, confirmed that her father passed away peacefully on Thursday, surrounded by family. The actor, known for his role in the 1970s crime series “Baretta,” died in Los Angeles from heart disease, according to his niece, Noreen Austin, who released an obituary notice through a representative.
Blake’s acting career, which began in early childhood, spanned an impressive six decades, yet his professional achievements became permanently entwined with the tragic 2001 shooting death of his second wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.
He was acquitted of murder charges in the criminal proceedings in 2005, but later faced a civil wrongful death lawsuit, in which he was found liable for Bakley’s death.
Born Michael Gubitosi on September 18, 1933, in Nutley, New Jersey, Blake was the third child of Giacomo Gubitosi, an Italian immigrant, and Elizabeth Cafone, an Italian American. His parents were intent on their three children succeeding in show business, leading to an early start in performing.
Blake’s fascination with performing started at the incredibly young age of two, when he joined his siblings in a family vaudeville act known as “The Three Little Hillbillies.” Their move to Los Angeles paved the way for the children to work as movie extras, launching his lifelong journey in entertainment.
It was during this early period in Hollywood that young Mickey Gubitosi, as he was then known, caught the eye of producers and was cast in the iconic “Our Gang” movie shorts, also famously called “The Little Rascals,” appearing from 1939 to 1944, first under his birth name and later as Bobby Blake.
During a memorable appearance on “The Joan Rivers Show” in the early 1990s, Blake shared a vivid anecdote about how he landed a speaking role in “Our Gang,” recalling how he noticed that performers who spoke into the camera got noticed, and spontaneously exclaimed, “Man, I can say that! I can say that!” when a child actor fumbled a line.
Blake continued his acting career as Bobby Blake, transitioning into various films and television series, particularly Westerns. These included notable appearances in “Have Gun – Will Travel” from 1960 to 1962, “Wagon Train” in 1961, and “Rawhide” in 1965.
His early film credits included the 1942 film “Mokey,” where he played Daniel ‘Mokey’ Delano, a troubled young boy. He also appeared in the 1948 classic “Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” which co-starred the legendary actor Humphrey Bogart.
Blake’s remarkable transition into serious adult roles culminated in 1967 with his powerful performance in the film “In Cold Blood.” This critically lauded adaptation of Truman Capote’s gripping 1965 non-fiction novel earned him widespread acclaim for his unforgettable portrayal of Perry Smith.
Smith was one of the two men, alongside Richard Hickock, responsible for the 1959 murder of a family in Holcomb, Kansas, during a burglary. The film solidified Blake’s reputation as a talented dramatic actor.
Following his compelling performance as a criminal, Blake transitioned to playing a law enforcement officer in the 1970s television crime series “Baretta.” The show, which premiered in 1975, aired for four seasons on ABC until 1978.
In “Baretta,” Blake played the title character, Tony Baretta, a New York City undercover detective. His compelling performance earned him a Best Actor Emmy Award in 1975 and a Golden Globe, further cementing his status as a leading television star.
However, Blake later confessed to “20/20” in 2019 that his relentless pursuit of perfectionism made him unable to fully enjoy the role. He described how he constantly pushed for every script, direction, and casting choice to be superior, stating, “I drove myself crazy.”
Beyond his iconic role in “Baretta,” Blake’s extensive television work included a recurring spot as a panelist on “Hollywood Squares” during the early to mid-1970s and numerous guest appearances on “The Tonight Show,” showcasing his versatility and enduring presence in the entertainment industry.
In 1995, he appeared in the film “Money Train” alongside Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lopez. He also earned another Emmy in 1993 for his portrayal of the title character in “Judgment Day: The John List Story,” playing a soft-spoken, churchgoing man who murdered his wife and three children, a role also based on a true crime.
In 1985, Blake not only starred in but also created the short-lived NBC series “Hell Town,” which centered on a priest ministering to a congregation in Los Angeles’s East Side. Blake later confided to “20/20” that the immense pressures of producing and acting in the series became overwhelmingly difficult to manage.
He candidly recounted experiencing a severe nervous breakdown while filming, which ultimately led to him walking off the set and abandoning the show, admitting that he felt “crazy” during that demanding period, believing he was undertaking “God’s work.”
Blake’s profound personal struggles and complex self-perception seemed to have deep roots in his challenging childhood, as he ultimately made it.
