The US actor Robert Blake, who often played villains and was himself involved in a murder trial, is dead. According to his niece Noreen Austin, he died at his home in Los Angeles after a long illness, as the US industry journals “Hollywood Reporter” and “Deadline.com” on Thursday (local time) reported. The US broadcaster CNN reported on the death, citing Blake’s daughter Delinah Blake. The actor was 89 years old.
Already as a child in the 1940s he had roles in films and TV series, including the series “The Little Rascals”. He celebrated his greatest success in the 1970s as a police officer in the series “Baretta”. On the big screen he attracted attention in the film ‘In Cold Blood’ (1968) in a murderous role. He was last seen in David Lynch’s thriller “Lost Highway” (1997).
A spectacular murder trial against Blake made headlines. Almost a year after the violent death of his wife Bonny Lee Bakley, the actor was arrested in 2002 as a suspect. He was charged with killing his 44-year-old wife six months after their marriage.
Bakley was shot dead outside a Los Angeles restaurant. The actor denied any guilt in the crime. According to Blake, his wife waited in the car after dinner while he went to the restaurant to get his gun, which he said he had left there. He always had a gun with him to protect his wife, Blake told police at the time. When he returned he found her dead.
In the criminal trial, Blake was acquitted of the charge of murder by a jury in 2005 for lack of evidence. A little later, the survivors of the dead wife filed a civil lawsuit against Blake – the actor lost this process. He was sentenced to pay millions in damages. The former “Baretta” star later filed for bankruptcy. He no longer performed as an actor.