Robert Blake, the Emmy-winning actor who came to fame after being accused of killing his wife but acquitted, passed away on Thursday at the age of 89. His contentious court battle is what made him most well-known.
Here’s everything you need to know about Robert Blake’s death. We’ll also put some light on his early life, career, net worth and the case in which he was accused of killing his own wife.
Who was Robert Blake?
He was best known for his work in the 1970s television drama Baretta and the 1967 film In Cold Blood; he was born as Michael James Vincenzo Gubitosi on 18 September 1933 and passed away on 9 March 2023. As a young kid, Robert made his acting debut in the Little Rascals short film series.
After serving in the American Army, Robert returned to acting, taking on roles in several renowned movies and television. He appeared in 22 Red Ryder films as a child actor. In the Red Ryder series, he usually portrayed American Indian or Mexican characters.
In 1997’s Lost Highway, Robert continued to perform. Michael Newton, a writer, described Blake’s career as the longest career in Hollywood history because he was one of the first child actors to transition into mature roles successfully.
In March 2005, Robert was accused of killing his second wife Bonny Lee Bakley, but was acquitted. He was convicted responsible for her wrongful death in a California civil court in November 2005.
Basic Information About Him
| Full name | Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi |
| Professional name | Robert Blake |
| Date of Birth | 18 September 1933 |
| Date of Death | 9 March 2023 |
| Birthplace | Nutley, New Jersey, United States |
| Age at the time of death | 89 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Gender | Male |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Religion | NA |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Profession | Actor, Screenwriter, Film producer, Soldier |
| Net Worth | $3 Million |
Body Stats
| Height in m | 1.63 m |
| Height in cm | 163 cm |
| Height in inches | 5 Feet 3 Inches |
| Weight in Kg | 78 kg |
| Weight in pounds | 171 pounds |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Brown |
Family
| Father’s name | Giacomo Gubitosi |
| Mother’s name | Elizabeth Cafone |
| Siblings | Joan Blake |
| James Gubitosi | |
| Wife | Sondra Kerr (1961-1963) |
| Bonny Lee Bakley (2000-2001) | |
| Pamela Hudak (2017-2019) | |
| Children | Rose Lenore Sophia Blake |
| Noah Blake | |
| Delinah Blake |
Educational Background
| School name | NA |
| University name | NA |
| Qualifications | NA |
Social Media Accounts
| NA | |
| NA | |
| NA |
His Early Life
On 18 September 1933, Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi aka Robert Blake was born in Nutley, New Jersey. Giacomo (James) Gubitosi and his wife, Elizabeth Cafone, were his parents. A maker of cans employed James in 1930 as a die setter. Robert’s parents eventually started a singing and dance performance.
In 1936, the trio of their children debuted as “The Three Little Hillbillies.” They moved to Los Angeles in 1938 when the youngsters started working as movie extras. Blake had a complex background and was abused by his alcoholic father. He started going to a public school at the age of 10.
Robert said his parents regularly locked him in a closet and forced him to eat meals from the floor. He was tormented and got into confrontations with other pupils, which brought him expelled. Robert ran away from home at 14, which resulted in several more troubling years. In 1956, his father committed suicide.
His Career
Began Acting as a Child
While still going by “Mickey Gubitosi,” Blake debuted as Toto in the MGM movie Wedding Suite (1939), starring Annabella and Robert Young. With MGM’s Our Gang short films, Robert began using his name and replacing Eugene “Porky” Lee.
From 1939 and 1944, he made an appearance in 40 short films, finally becoming the series’ last starring role. The series included Blake’s parents as extras as well. In Our Gang, Robert’s character Mickey was frequently asked to cry.
He received criticism for being annoying and irritable as well. In 1942, Bobby Blake became his stage name, and Mickey Blake became his on-screen alias.
The Young Artist Foundation gave Blake the “Lifetime Achievement” Award in 1995 for his work on Our Gang. In Andy Hardy’s Double Life from 1942, Blake played “Tooky” Stedman.
In the Red Ryder western series, Blake debuted as “Little Beaver,” a young Native American boy, in 1944 at the Republic Pictures studios.
His Career as an Adult
Robert joined the US Army after being recruited in 1950. At the age of 21, he left; he had no chances for employment and descended into severe despair. Robert started improving his personal and professional lives when he enrolled in Jeff Corey’s acting class. He also offered drug sales.
He finally became a seasoned Hollywood performer, taking on prominent dramatic parts in films and television. For the first time, he was credited as Robert Blake in 1956. In 1959, Blake declined the role of Little Joe Cartwright in NBC’s western television series Bonanza.
That year, he did appear in the 26 Men episode “Trade Me Deadly” of the syndicated western series, which depicted actual events involving the Arizona Rangers as Tobe Hackett. In addition, Robert made two appearances as “Alfredo” in the syndicated western The Cisco Kid and starred in “The White Hat” episode of the similarly-syndicated series Men of Annapolis.
He appeared in various renowned movies as an adult, including the gangster film The Purple Gang, Pork Chop Hill, and Town Without Pity.
Robert Blake’s Net Worth
Robert, an American actor, has a $3 million net worth. However, there was a time when his net worth was around $10 to $15 million. Unfortunately, his worth kept deteriorating as Robert faced severe financial repercussions due to the charges he faced for the murder of his second wife, Bonnie Lee Backley.
The Demand that he provide Bakley’s family around $30 million, even sent him into bankruptcy.
How Robert Blake Died?
According to a statement released on behalf of his niece Noreen Austin, Robert passed away from heart disease at home in Los Angeles.
What happened to Robert’s Second Wife?
His second wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, was shot and killed on 4 May 2001, in front of a Studio City restaurant. Despite this, he could never get past the challenging circumstances that followed.
Robert was one of the best performers of his time, but he was more recognised as the main suspect in a murder case that happened. Rather than the harsh, dark-haired star of “Baretta,” many people thought of him as a ghostly, white-haired murder suspect.
A jury finally found him not guilty. He was sure that he had not killed his wife, who was shot once in the head outside a Los Angeles restaurant in May 200. But, a civil jury would hold him responsible for her passing and demand that he provide Bakley’s family $30 million, a ruling that sent him into bankruptcy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When and Where did Robert Blake Die?
Robert died on 9 March 2023, in his Los Angeles home, and according to the sources, the reason behind his death was heart disease.
2. Was Blake found Guilty of his Second Wife’s Murder?
He was finally found not guilty in 2005 after a protracted trial that lasted many years. However, Robert was judged accountable for his wife’s death when a wrongful death case was filed against him in California, and he faced severe financial repercussions.
3. What is the Net Worth of Robert Blake?
According to the reports, he had an estimated net worth of around 3 Million US dollars.
Wrapping Up
In this article, we have provided complete information about Robert Blake’s death and his complete life. This also contains details regarding the murder case Robert faced of murdering his own wife.
If you enjoyed our article, please visit our website Briefing Headlines regularly for more informative articles.
Leave a comment