Robert Blake (actor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Blake
Robert Blake Baretta 1977.JPG
Blake in 1977
Born
Michael James Gubitosi

(1933-09-18) September 18, 1933 (age 87)
Nutley, New Jersey, U.S.
Other names
  • Bobby Blake
  • Lyman P. Docker
  • Mickey Gubitosi
OccupationActor
Years active1939–1997
Spouse(s)
  • Sondra Kerr
    (m. 1961; div. 1983)
  • (m. 2000; murdered 2001)
  • Pamela Hudak
    (m. 2017; div. 2019)
Children3
Websiterobertbobbyblake.com

Robert Blake (born Michael James Gubitosi; September 18, 1933) is an American actor. He is known for his starring roles in the film In Cold Blood and the U.S. television series Baretta.[1]

Blake began acting as a child, with a lead role in the final years of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Our Gang (Little Rascals) short film series from 1939 to 1944. He also appeared as a child actor in 22 entries of the Red Ryder film franchise. In the Red Ryder series and in many of his adult roles, Blake was cast as an American Indian or Latino character.[2] After a stint in the United States Army, Blake returned to acting in both television and movie roles.[2] Blake continued acting until 1997's Lost Highway in a career that author Michael Newton called "one of the longest in Hollywood history."[2]

In 2005, Blake was tried and acquitted of the 2001 murder of his second wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley.[3][4] On November 18, 2005, he was found liable in a California civil court for her wrongful death.[5]

Early life[]

Robert Blake was born Michael James Gubitosi[6] in Nutley, New Jersey, on September 18, 1933. His parents were Giacomo (James) Gubitosi and his wife, Elizabeth Cafone.[citation needed] In 1930, James worked as a die setter for a can manufacturer. Eventually, Blake's parents began a song-and-dance act.[2] In 1936, their three children began performing, billed as "The Three Little Hillbillies."[2] They moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1938 where their children began working as movie extras.[citation needed]

Blake had an unhappy childhood and was allegedly abused by his alcoholic father. When he entered public school at age 10, he was bullied and had fights with other students, which led to his expulsion. Blake stated that he was physically and sexually abused by both of his parents while growing up and was frequently locked in a closet and forced to eat off the floor as punishment.[2] At age 14, he ran away from home, leading to several more difficult years.[7] His father committed suicide in 1956.[2]

Child actor[]

Robert Blake in 1944

Then known as "Mickey Gubitosi", Blake began his acting career as Toto in the MGM movie Bridal Suite (1939), starring Annabella and Robert Young. Blake then began appearing in MGM's Our Gang short subjects (a.k.a. The Little Rascals) under his real name, replacing Eugene "Porky" Lee. He appeared in 40 of the shorts between 1939 and 1944, eventually becoming the series' final lead character. Blake's parents also made appearances in the series as extras. In Our Gang, Blake's character, Mickey, was often called upon to cry, for which he was criticized for being unconvincing. He was also criticized for being obnoxious and whiny.[8] In 1942, he acquired the stage name "Bobby Blake" and his character in the series was renamed "Mickey Blake." In 1944, MGM discontinued Our Gang, releasing the final short in the series, Dancing Romeo. In 1995, Blake was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award for his role in Our Gang.[9] In 1942, Blake appeared as "Tooky" Stedman in Andy Hardy's Double Life.

Blake as "Little Beaver" in a Red Ryder film serial chapter, ca. 1946

In 1944, Blake began playing an American Indian boy, "Little Beaver," in the Red Ryder western series at the studios of Republic Pictures (now CBS Radford Studios), appearing in twenty-three of the movies until 1947. He also had roles in one of Laurel and Hardy's later films The Big Noise (1944), and the Warner Bros. movies Humoresque (1946), playing John Garfield's character as a child, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), playing the Mexican boy who sells Humphrey Bogart a winning lottery ticket and gets a glass of water thrown in his face by Bogart in the process. In 1950, at age 17, Blake appeared as Mahmoud in The Black Rose and as Enrico, Naples Bus Boy (uncredited) in Black Hand.[citation needed]

Career as an adult[]

In 1950, Blake was drafted into the United States Army. Upon leaving at the age of 21, he found himself without any job prospects and fell into a deep depression. This led to a two-year addiction to heroin and cocaine. He also sold drugs.[10] Blake entered Jeff Corey's acting class and began working on improving his personal and professional life. He eventually became a seasoned Hollywood actor, playing notable dramatic roles in movies and on television. In 1956, he was billed as Robert Blake for the first time.[citation needed]

In 1959, in what was considered a career blunder, Blake turned down the role of Little Joe Cartwright, a character ultimately portrayed by Michael Landon, in NBC's western television series Bonanza. He did appear that year as Tobe Hackett in the episode "Trade Me Deadly" of the syndicated western series 26 Men, which dramatized true stories of the Arizona Rangers. Blake also appeared twice as "Alfredo" in the syndicated western The Cisco Kid and starred in "The White Hat" episode of Men of Annapolis, another syndicated series. He appeared in three distinctive guest lead roles in the CBS series Have Gun Will Travel, as well as one-time guest roles on John Payne's NBC western The Restless Gun, Nick Adams's ABC western The Rebel, and in season 3, episode 25 of Bat Masterson, the NBC western series The Californians, the short-lived ABC adventure series Straightaway, and the NBC western television series Laramie.

Blake performed in numerous motion pictures as an adult, including the starring role in The Purple Gang (1960), a gangster movie, and featured roles in Pork Chop Hill (1959) and, as one of four U.S. soldiers participating in a gang rape in occupied Germany, in Town Without Pity (1961). He was also in Ensign Pulver (1964), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) and other films.

Blake garnered further exposure as a member of the ensemble cast of the 1963 acclaimed but short-lived The Richard Boone Show, appearing in fifteen of the NBC series' 25 episodes. At 33, Blake played Billy the Kid in the 1966 episode "The Kid from Hell's Kitchen" of the syndicated western series Death Valley Days, hosted by Robert Taylor. In the story line, The Kid sets out to avenge the death of his friend John Tunstall played by John Anderson.[11]

In 1967, Blake experienced a career breakout due to his work in the film In Cold Blood.[12][13] Blake played real-life murderer Perry Smith, to whom he bore a chilling resemblance. Richard Brooks received two Oscar nominations for the film: one for his direction, and one for his adaptation of Truman Capote's book.[citation needed]

As Baretta with Fred.

Blake played a Native American fugitive in Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969), starred in a TV movie adaptation of Of Mice and Men (1981), and played a motorcycle highway patrolman in iconoclastic Electra Glide in Blue (1973). He played a small-town stock car driver with ambitions to join the NASCAR circuit in Corky, which MGM produced in 1972. The film featured real NASCAR drivers, including Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough.[citation needed]

Blake may be best known for his Emmy Award-winning role of Tony Baretta in the popular television series Baretta[14] (1975 to 1978), playing a street-wise, plain clothes police detective. The show's trademarks included Baretta's pet cockatoo "Fred" and his signature phrases—notably "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time", "That's the name of that tune", and "You can take that to the bank."

After Baretta ended, NBC offered to produce several pilot episodes of a proposed series titled Joe Dancer, in which Blake would play the role of a hard-boiled private detective.[15] In addition to starring, Blake also was credited as the executive producer and creator.[15] Three television films aired on NBC in 1981 and 1983, and the series never ultimately sold.[15]

He continued to act through the 1980s and 1990s, mostly in television, in such roles as Jimmy Hoffa in the miniseries Blood Feud (1983) and as John List in the murder drama Judgment Day: The John List Story (1993), which earned him a third Emmy nomination. Blake starred in the 1985 television series Hell Town, playing a priest working in a tough neighborhood. He also had character parts in the theatrical movies Money Train (1995) and played the chilling and sinister Mystery Man in David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997).[citation needed]

Marriages and children[]

Blake and actress were married in 1961, and divorced in 1983. It was his first marriage, from which came two children: actor Noah Blake (born 1965) and Delinah Blake (born 1966).[citation needed]

In 1999, Blake met Bonnie Lee Bakley, formerly of Wharton, New Jersey, who had already been married nine times and reportedly had a history of exploiting older men, especially celebrities, for money.[16] She was dating Christian Brando, the son of Marlon Brando, during her relationship with Blake. Bakley became pregnant and told both Brando and Blake that her baby was theirs. Initially, Bakley named the baby "Christian Shannon Brando" and stated that Brando was the father.[17] Bakley wrote letters describing her dubious motives to Blake.[18] Blake insisted that she take a DNA test to prove the paternity.[17] Blake became Bakley's tenth husband on November 19, 2000, after DNA tests proved that Blake was the biological father of her child, who was renamed Rosie.[citation needed] Blake remained married to Bakley until she was murdered on May 4, 2001.

In a March 2016 interview at age 82, Blake indicated he had a new woman in his life, who remained unnamed.[19] In 2017, Blake applied for a marriage license for his fiancée, Pamela Hudak, whom he had known for decades, and who had testified on his behalf at his trial.[20] On December 7, 2018, it was announced that Blake had filed for divorce.[21]

Death of Bonnie Lee Bakley[]

On May 4, 2001, Blake took Bakley out for dinner at Vitello's Italian Restaurant at 4349 Tujunga Avenue in Studio City, California. Bakley was fatally shot in the head while sitting in Blake's vehicle, which was parked on a side street around the corner from the restaurant, across the street and behind a dumpster next to a construction site. Blake claimed that he had returned to the restaurant to collect a pistol which he had left inside and claimed that he had not been present when the shooting took place. The pistol Blake claimed to have left in the restaurant was later found and determined by police not to be the murder weapon.[22]

Arrest[]

On April 18, 2002, Blake was arrested and charged with Bakley's murder. His longtime bodyguard, Earle Caldwell, was also arrested and charged with conspiracy in connection with the murder. A key event that gave the Los Angeles Police Department the confidence to arrest Blake came when a retired stuntman, Ronald "Duffy" Hambleton, agreed to testify against him.[23] Hambleton alleged that Blake tried to hire him to kill Bakley. Another retired stuntman and an associate of Hambleton's, Gary McLarty, also came forward with a similar story.[citation needed] According to author Miles Corwin, Hambleton had agreed to testify against Blake only after being told that he would be subject to a grand jury subpoena and a misdemeanor charge.[24][25]

On April 22, 2002, Blake was charged with one count of murder with special circumstances, an offense which carried a possible death penalty. He was also charged with two counts of solicitation of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. Blake entered a plea of not guilty.[citation needed] On March 13, 2003, after almost a year in jail, Blake was granted bail, which was set at $1.5 million, and was allowed to go free to await trial. Blake was placed on house arrest during this time. On October 31, in a major reversal for the prosecution, the judge dismissed the conspiracy charges against Blake and Caldwell during a pre-trial hearing.[26] The junior prosecutor who handled the case, Shellie Samuels, was interviewed by CBS reporter Peter Van Sant for the CBS program 48 Hours Investigates. During the interview, broadcast in November 2003, she admitted that the prosecutors had no forensic evidence implicating Blake in the murder and that they could not tie him to the murder weapon.[26]

Trial and acquittal[]

Blake's criminal trial for murder began on December 20, 2004, with opening statements by the prosecution and opening statements by the defense the following day.[26] The prosecution contended that Blake intentionally murdered Bakley to free himself from a loveless marriage, while the defense claimed that Blake was an innocent victim of circumstantial and fabricated evidence. McLarty and Hambleton each testified that Blake had asked them to murder Bakley. On cross-examination, the defense brought up McLarty's mental health problems and Hambleton's criminal history. The lack of gunshot residue on Blake's hands was a key part of the defense's case that Blake was not the shooter. Blake chose not to testify.[27]

On March 16, 2005, Blake was found not guilty of murder and not guilty of one of the two counts of solicitation of murder. The other count, for solicitation to commit murder, was dropped after it was revealed that the jury was deadlocked 11–1 in favor of an acquittal. Los Angeles District Attorney Stephen Cooley, commenting on this ruling, called Blake "a miserable human being" and the jurors "incredibly stupid" to fall for the defense's claims.[28][29] Public opinion regarding the verdict was mixed, with some feeling that Blake was guilty, though many felt that there was not enough evidence to convict him.[30] On the night of his acquittal several fans celebrated at Blake's favorite haunt – and the scene of the crime – Vitello's.[31]

Civil case[]

Bakley's three children filed a civil suit against Blake, asserting that he was responsible for their mother's death. During the trial, the girlfriend of Blake's co-defendant Earle Caldwell said she believed Blake and Caldwell were involved in the crime.[32]

On November 18, 2005, a jury found Blake liable for the wrongful death of his wife and ordered him to pay $30 million.[33] On February 3, 2006, Blake filed for bankruptcy.

Blake's attorney, M. Gerald Schwartzbach, appealed the court's decision on February 28, 2007.[34] On April 26, 2008, an appeals court upheld the civil case verdict, but cut Blake's penalty assessment to $15 million.[35]

Aftermath[]

Blake has maintained a low profile since his acquittal and his filing for bankruptcy, with debts of $3 million for unpaid legal fees as well as state and federal taxes.[36] Due to his legal problems Blake has said that he might return to acting someday in order to help himself financially.[37] On April 9, 2010, the state of California filed a tax lien against Blake for $1,110,878 in unpaid back taxes.[38]

On July 16, 2012, Blake was interviewed on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight. When Piers Morgan asked Blake about the night of Bakley's murder, Blake became defensive and angry, stating he resented Morgan's questioning and felt he was being interrogated. Morgan responded he was only asking questions that he felt people were eager to have answered.[39]

In January 2019 Blake was interviewed by 20/20. Initially he seemed to decline the interview and instead vacated it to a friend but then began to participate in the interview where he discussed the incident and blasted the cops who dealt with him and discussed the nature of Hollywood and its reaction to the event among other topics including his early life and difficulty with his parents.The show made a surprisingly strong case for Blake's innocence.[40][41][42]

He later opened up a YouTube channel in September, the same year where he discusses his life and career in a series of YouTube videos titled 'Robert Blake: I ain't dead yet, so stay tuned.'[43]

Later in October the same year, Blake's daughter, Rose Lenore opened up about her childhood and how the trial affected her. She discussed reuniting with her father, visiting her mother's grave and her own desire to get into acting. Regarding knowing the truth about her mother's murder and whether Blake did it she declined to know the details but is open to knowing the truth "If it's ever an option".[44]

In 2021, Blake opened up a website 'Robert Blake's Pushcart' where scripts, memorabilia and books including his autobiography 'Tales of a Rascal' are available to read and in the case of the latter can be ordered.[45]

Quentin Tarantino's novelization of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood based on his film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is dedicated to Blake. Notably Blake's later life dealing with his wife's murder mirrors Brad Pitt's character Cliff Booth who is also accused of murdering his wife.[46]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Film Role Notes
1939 Bridal Suite Toto Uncredited
1939 Joy Scouts Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1939 Auto Antics Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1939 Captain Spanky's Showboat Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1939 Dad for a Day Mickey Short film
1939 Time Out for Lessons Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 Alfalfa's Double Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 The Big Premiere Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 All About Hash Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 The New Pupil Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 Spots Before Your Eyes Kid Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 Bubbling Troubles Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 I Love You Again Edward Littlejohn Jr. Uncredited
1940 Good Bad Boys Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 Waldo's Last Stand Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 Goin' Fishin' Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1940 Kiddie Kure Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1941 Fightin' Fools Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1941 Baby Blues Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1941 Ye Olde Minstrels Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1941 1-2-3 Go Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1941 Robot Wrecks Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1941 Helping Hands Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1941 Come Back, Miss Pipps Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1941 Wedding Worries Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1941 Main Street on the March! Schulte Child Short film; uncredited
1942 Melodies Old and New Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1942 Going to Press Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1942 Mokey Daniel "Mokey" Delano Credited as Bobby Blake
1942 Don't Lie Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1942 Kid Glove Killer Boy in Car Uncredited
1942 Surprised Parties Mickey Short film; credited as Mickey Gubitosi
1942 Doin' Their Bit Mickey Short film; uncredited
1942 Rover's Big Chance Mickey Short film
1942 Mighty Lak a Goat Mickey Short film
1942 Unexpected Riches Mickey Short film
1942 Andy Hardy's Double Life "Tooky" Stedman
1942 China Girl Chandu
1943 Benjamin Franklin, Jr. Mickey Short film
1943 Family Troubles Mickey Short film
1943 Slightly Dangerous Boy on Porch Uncredited
1943 Calling All Kids Mickey Short film
1943 Farm Hands Mickey Short film
1943 Election Daze Mickey Short film
1943 Salute to the Marines Junior Carson Uncredited
1943 Little Miss Pinkerton Mickey Short film
1943 Three Smart Guys Mickey Short film
1943 Lost Angel Jerry
1944 Radio Bugs Mickey Short film
1944 Tale of a Dog Mickey Short film
1944 Dancing Romeo Mickey Short film
1944 Tucson Raiders Little Beaver
1944 Meet the People Jimmy Smith Uncredited
1944 Marshal of Reno Little Beaver
1944 The Seventh Cross Small Boy Uncredited
1944 The San Antonio Kid Little Beaver
1944 The Big Noise Egbert Hartley
1944 Cheyenne Wildcat Little Beaver
1944 The Woman in the Window Dickie Wanley Uncredited
1944 Vigilantes of Dodge City Little Beaver
1944 Sheriff of Las Vegas Little Beaver
1945 Great Stagecoach Robbery Little Beaver
1945 Pillow to Post Wilbur
1945 The Horn Blows at Midnight Junior Poplinski
1945 Lone Texas Ranger Little Beaver
1945 Phantom of the Plains Little Beaver
1945 Marshal of Laredo Little Beaver
1945 Colorado Pioneers Little Beaver
1945 Dakota Little Boy
1945 Wagon Wheels Westward Little Beaver
1946 A Guy Could Change Alan Schroeder
1946 California Gold Rush Little Beaver
1946 Sheriff of Redwood Valley Little Beaver
1946 Sheriff of Redwood Valley Cub Garth
1946 Sun Valley Cyclone Little Beaver
1946 In Old Sacramento Newsboy
1946 Conquest of Cheyenne Little Beaver
1946 Santa Fe Uprising Little Beaver
1946 Out California Way Danny McCoy
1946 Stagecoach to Denver Little Beaver
1946 Humoresque Paul Boray as a Child
1947 Vigilantes of Boomtown Little Beaver
1947 Homesteaders of Paradise Valley Little Beaver
1947 Oregon Trail Scouts Little Beaver
1947 Rustlers of Devil's Canyon Little Beaver
1947 Marshal of Cripple Creek Little Beaver
1947 The Return of Rin Tin Tin Paul the Refugee Lad
1947 The Last Round-up Mike Henry
1948 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Mexican Boy Selling Lottery Tickets Uncredited
1950 Black Hand Enrico, Naples Bus Boy Uncredited
1950 The Black Rose Mahmoud
1952 Apache War Smoke Luis Herrera
1953 Treasure of the Golden Condor Stable Boy Uncredited
1953 The Veils of Bagdad Beggar Boy
1956 Screaming Eagles Pvt. Hernandez
1956 The Rack Italian soldier Uncredited
1956 Rumble on the Docks Chuck
1957 Three Violent People Rafael Ortega
1957 The Tijuana Story Enrique Acosta Mesa
1958 The Beast of Budapest Karolyi
1958 Revolt in the Big House Rudy Hernandez
1959 Pork Chop Hill Pvt. Velie
1959 Battle Flame Cpl. Jake Pacheco
1959 The Purple Gang William Joseph "Honeyboy" Willard
1961 Town Without Pity Corporal Jim Larkin
1963 PT 109 Charles "Bucky" Harris
1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told Simon the Zealot
1966 This Property Is Condemned Sidney
1967 In Cold Blood Perry Smith
1969 Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here Willie Boy
1972 Ripped-Off Teddy "Cherokee" Wilson
1972 Corky Corky
1973 Electra Glide in Blue Officer John Wintergreen
1974 Busting Farrell
1980 Coast to Coast Charles Callahan
1981 Second-Hand Hearts Loyal Muke
1995 Money Train Donald Patterson
1997 Lost Highway The Mystery Man

Television[]

Year Film Role Notes
1952 The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok Rain Cloud Episode: "The Professor's Daughter"
1953 Fireside Theatre Johnny Episode: "Night in the Warehouse"
1953 The Cisco Kid Davy / Alfredo 2 episodes
1956 The Roy Rogers Show Unknown character Episode: "Paleface Justice"
1956–1958 Broken Arrow Viklai / Machogee / Young Apache Warrior 3 episodes
1957 Official Detective Al Madsen Episode: "The Hostages"
1957 Men of Annapolis Ed Episode: "The White Hat"
1957 26 Men Tobe Hackett Episode: "Trade Me Deadly"
1957 Whirlybirds Jose Episode: "The Runaway"
1957 The Court of Last Resort Tomas Mendoza Episode: "The Tomas Mendoza Case"
1958 The Millionaire Clark Davis Episode: "The John Richards Story"
1958 The Restless Gun Lupe Sandoval Episode: "Thunder Alley"
1958 The Californians Cass Episode: "The Long Night"
1959 Black Saddle Wayne Robinson Episode: "Client: Robinson"
1959 Playhouse 90 Unknown character Episode: "A Trip to Paradise"
1959 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre CSA Cpl. Michael Bers Episode: "Heritage"
1960 The Rebel Virgil Moss Episode: "He's Only a Boy"
1960 Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond Tom Episode: "Gyspy"
1960–1962 Have Gun - Will Travel Lauro / Jessie May Turnbow / Smollet 3 episodes
1961 Bat Masterson Bill-Bill MacWilliams Episode: "No Amnesty for Death"
1961 Wagon Train Johnny Kamen Episode: "The Joe Muharich Story"
1961 Naked City Knox Maquon 2 episodes
1961 Laramie Lame Wolf Episode: "Wolf Club"
1961–1962 Straightaway Chu Chu 2 episodes
1962 Ben Casey Jesse Verdugo Episode: "Imagine a Long Bright Corridor"
1962 Cain's Hundred Rick Carter Episode: "A Creature Lurks in Ambush"
1962 The New Breed Bobby Madero Episode: "My Brother's Keeper"
1963–1964 The Richard Boone Show Various 14 episodes
1965 Slattery's People Jerry Leon Episode: "Question: Does Nero Still at Ringside Sit?"
1965 The Trials of O'Brien Joe Rooney Episode: "Bargain Day on the Street of Regret"
1965 Rawhide Max Gufler / Hap Johnson 2 episodes
1965–1966 The F.B.I. Junior / Pete Cloud 2 episodes
1966 Twelve O'Clock High Lt. Johnny Eagle Episode: "A Distant Cry"
1966 Death Valley Days Billy the Kid Episode: "The Kid from Hell's Kitchen"
1975–1978 Baretta Detective Anthony Vincenzo "Tony" Baretta 82 episodes
1977 29th Primetime Emmy Awards Co-host With Angie Dickinson
1981 The Big Black Pill Joe Dancer Television film
1981 The Monkey Mission Joe Dancer Television film
1981 George Milton Television film
1982 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Robert Blake/Kenny Loggins"
1983 Blood Feud Jimmy Hoffa Miniseries
1983 Murder 1, Dancer 0 Joe Dancer Television film
1985 Hell Town Noah "Hardstep" Rivers 13 episodes
1985 Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story Lenny Mancini Television film
1993 Judgment Day: The John List Story John List Television film

References[]

  1. ^ Scott, A. O. (November 4, 2005). "In Cold Blood". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Newton, Michael (2008). Celebrities and crime. Infobase Publishing. pp. 84–90. ISBN 9780791094020. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  3. ^ LeDuff, Charles (March 5, 2005). "Actor's Trial, Complete With Pulp Novel Characters, Draws to a Close". The New York Times.
  4. ^ LeDuff, Charles (March 17, 2005). "'Baretta' Star Acquitted of Murder in Wife's Death". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Actor Is Ordered to Pay $30 Million in Killing". The New York Times. November 19, 2005.
  6. ^ Blake, Robert (2011). Tales of a Rascal: What I Did for Love. Black Rainbow Productions. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-61-559194-0.
  7. ^ King, Gary C. "Robert Blake and the Murder of Bonny Lee Bakley". Tru TV. p. 15. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  8. ^ Maltin, Leonard; Richard W. Bann (1992) [1977]. The Little Rascals: The Life & Times of Our Gang (Rev. ed.). Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-58325-9.
  9. ^ "16th Annual Youth in Film Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  10. ^ The Robert Blake Interview Playboy Magazine (June 1977)
  11. ^ ""The Kid from Hell's Kitchen" on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Data Base. October 20, 1966. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  12. ^ "17 Years After Being Accused Of His Wife's Murder, Actor Robert Blake Opened Up About The Crime". January 9, 2020.
  13. ^ Group, Sinclair Broadcast (January 6, 2016). "Video Vault | Las Vegas connection to 'In Cold Blood'". KSNV.
  14. ^ "Robert Blake". Getty Images. 1975.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c Pitts, Michael R. (1991). Famous Movie Detectives II. Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 243. joe dancer robert blake.
  16. ^ "A Question Of Guilt: The Bakley Murder: Who Killed Bonny Lee Bakley?". CBS. August 5, 2002. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b King, Gary C. "Robert Blake and the Murder of Bonny Lee Bakley". Tru TV. p. 5. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  18. ^ "Excerpts from letters written by victim found in defendant's home". Court TV Online. March 6, 2003. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  19. ^ Staff (March 15, 2016). "Love At Any Age? 82-Year-Old Robert Blake Debuts New Mystery Lady". Radar Online. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  20. ^ "Robert Blake 83 to Marry Wife number 3". Inside Edition. March 14, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  21. ^ "Robert Blake Files For Divorce From Wife Pamela Hudak One Year After Getting Married". TMZ.
  22. ^ "Library". truTV.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ "Stuntmen key witnesses vs. Blake". Court TV Online. April 25, 2002. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  24. ^ Sweetingham, Lisa (January 20, 2005). "Author: Police suspected Robert Blake hours after wife was slain". Court TV Online. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  25. ^ Sweetingham, Lisa (February 1, 2005). "Scene is set in Blake case; cue stuntmen". Court TV Online. Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b c "The State v. Robert Blake".
  27. ^ "The State v. Robert Blake".
  28. ^ "Blake jurors want apology from D.A." Associated Press. March 25, 2005. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
  29. ^ Riley, John (March 17, 2005). "Little motive, plenty doubt". Newsday. Archived from the original on October 23, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  30. ^ "Blake's Hollywood Ending: Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen Breaks Down Acquittals". CBS. March 16, 2005. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  31. ^ "Fans Flock to Vitello's to Celebrate Verdict". Los Angeles Daily News. March 17, 2005. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
  32. ^ Dubin, Eric (October 1, 2007). The Star Chamber: How Celebrities Go Free and Their Lawyers Become Famous. Los Angeles: Phoenix Books. p. 180. ISBN 978-1597775533.
  33. ^ "CNN.com – Actor Blake liable in wife's death – Nov 18, 2005". CNN. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  34. ^ Deutsch, Linda (February 28, 2007). "Robert Blake appeals $30M civil verdict". Monterey County Herald. Retrieved April 2, 2007.[permanent dead link]
  35. ^ "Actor Blake loses US court appeal". BBC News. April 27, 2008.
  36. ^ "DETNEWS | Weblogs | Tax Watchdog". Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  37. ^ Welkos, Robert W. (2005). "An Act 2 for Robert Blake?", digital archives of Los Angeles Times, March 25, 2005. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  38. ^ "Actor Robert Blake Hit with $1.1 Million Tax Lien". Webcpa.com. June 23, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  39. ^ "Robert Blake on his murdered wife Bonnie Lee Bakley". CNN. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  40. ^ "20/20: Actor Robert Blake, 85, Happy To Get Rid of 3/4 of His Brain=2.paragraphs.com". Retrieved January 11, 2019..
  41. ^ "20/20: Robert Blake (01/11/2019)". Retrieved January 11, 2019..
  42. ^ "20/20: Robert Blake (01/11/2019)". Retrieved August 23, 2021..
  43. ^ "Robert Blake". YouTube. Retrieved September 1, 2019..
  44. ^ "Daughter of actor Robert Blake opens up 2 decades after her mother's death". Good Morning America. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  45. ^ "Robert Blake's Pushcart.com=Robert Blake's Pushcart.com". Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  46. ^ "Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Novel is a Fascinating, Frustrating Display of the Filmmaker's Strengths and Weaknesses=Slashfilm.com". Retrieved July 6, 2021.

Further reading[]

  • Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995, Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, pp. 185–186.
  • Dye, David. Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914–1985. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, p. 20–22.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""