Robert Blake, the Emmy-winning American actor passed away at the age of 89. Blake is known for his excellent performance as and actor was regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation.
Even though he was a part of different hit and popular projects, Robert Blake is best known for his roles in the 1957 crime film In Cold Blood and also the 1970s American detective television show Baretta.
The news about the death of Robert Blake was confirmed through a statement by the Associated Press on the behalf of his niece Noreen Austin.
As per the statement, Robert Blake passed away on Thursday, and the reason for his death was heart disease. The statement also added that the actor passed away at his home and he was surrounded by his loving family members during his last moments.
The actor who started out as a child actor, Robot Blake was able to build his career in Hollywood successfully by becoming a part of some of the hit projects during his time.
After having a break in his career due to legal issues concerning the murder of his wife, Blake had a break from his career. Later. Blake tried to make a comeback into the industry but the aftermath of the murder case affected him in having the desired comeback.
Robert Blake started out his acting career through a leading role in the American comedy series Our Gang. He was one of the lead roles in the series and he was part of the project from almost 1939 to 1944.
Starting from there, Robert Blake had a very long career in Hollywood and he was active almost until 1997 when he played one of his last prominent roles. He was a part of the 1997 movie Lost Highway.
Rather than his career, what made the name Robert Blake even more infamously popular was the murder case of his wife, for which Blake was acquitted later.
Robert Blake And Bonny Lee Bakley
Bonny Lee Bakley was the second wife of actor Robert Blake. He got married to Bonny in 1999. Before getting married to Bonny, Blake was married to actress Sandra Kerr and the couple had two children. As for his second wife Bonny, Blake was her tenth husband.
Bonny had already been married nine times before getting married to Robert Blake. She was reported to have a history of exploiting older men for their money, especially celebrities.
Reports suggest that Bonny was in a relationship with Christian Brando, son of Marlon Brando, while she was with Blake. After getting regent, there were altercations between Bonny and Blake regarding the paternity of the child.
Bonny claimed Christian Brando was the father of the child but it was proven that Blake was the biological father through a DNA test. After all these issues, Robert Blake remained married to Bonny Lee Bakely until she was shot dead on May 4, 2001.
The Murder Of Bonny Lee Bakely And The Trial
Robert Blake’s wife, Bonny Lee Bakely, was fatally shot on March 4, 2001. The tragic incident took place while Blake and Bonny were out for dinner. The couple visited Vitello’s Italian restaurant in Studio City, California and Bonny was sitting in Blake’s car when she was fatally shot in her head.
Blake was not present at the crime scene during the event as he went into the restaurant to collect the pistol that he left inside. The pistol was later examined by the police was determined that it was not the weapon used to kill Bonny Lee.
Robert Blake was arrested on April 18, 2002, for the murder of Bonny Lee Bekley. His bodyguard Earle Caldwell was also arrested and was charged with conspiracy in the murder.
Blake refused the charges against him and he pleaded not guilty to his wife’s murder. Blake spent almost a year in jail and was later granted bail which was set for around $1.5 million.
On March 16, 2005, Robert Blake was found not guilty of the murder of his wife Bonny Lee Bekley, and was free of all the charges raised against him.
Three of Bonnie Lee Beekley’s children filed a civil case against Robert Blake, accusing him of being responsible for the death of their mother.
In 2005, a jury found that Blake was liable for the wrongful death of Bonny Lee Bekley and he was ordered to pay a sum of $30 million as compensation to the children of Bekley. The following year, in 2006, Robert Blake filed for bankruptcy.
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The Aftermath
The trial of Bonny Lee Beeklry’s murder case lasted for months and the case invited nationwide media attention as Robert was a popular actor. After the trial and the subsequent filing for bankruptcy, Robert Blake kept a very low profile. He was not seen in public gatherings, or programs and avoided unwanted media attention.
After the case had ended, Robert Blake appeared in some interviews through which people got to see and hear from the actor. Blake appeared on the popular CNN show Piers Morgan Tonight.
During the interview, Blake was asked about the murder of Bonny Lee and the events that took place on a tragic night. Blake did not take the questions very well and was seen becoming angry and defensive. Blake stated that he felt like he was being interrogated. Morgan defended the questions by saying that he was just asking what the viewers wanted to know.
Robert Blake also appeared in an interview on 20/20 in 2019. Unlike the one in 2012, Blake was much calmer and open about his experiences during the time of the case and how he dealt with the situation.
Slowly, Blake started to get active in mainstream media. He started a YouTube channel named Robert Blake: I ain’t dead yet, so stay tuned. Blake discussed his life and career through the channel.
Blake also started a website named Robert Blake’s Pushcart, where books, scripts, and other such items from his career were available for people to read.
Even though he was not active in the film industry for a long time, Blake sure had a huge impact on the industry through his earlier works.
One of the most critically acclaimed movies of recent times, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood directed by Quentin Tarantino is dedicated to Robert Blake.
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