Robert Blake: Baretta Star and In Cold Blood Actor Dies at 89

Robert Blake was an American actor who began as a child star in Our Gang and later became a respected adult performer, best known for the film In Cold Blood and the television series Baretta. Born Michael James Gubitosi on September 18, 1933, in Nutley, New Jersey, he worked in show business for most of his life.

As a boy Blake appeared in 40 Our Gang shorts between 1939 and 1944 and played Little Beaver in 23 Red Ryder films. His breakthrough as an adult came as killer Perry Smith in In Cold Blood (1967). He starred as the title detective in Baretta from 1975 to 1978 and won an Emmy Award for the role.

In 2002 Blake was arrested for the 2001 killing of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. He was acquitted in a 2005 criminal trial, but later that year a civil jury found him liable for her wrongful death and awarded $30 million, which an appeals court reduced to $15 million. He died of heart disease in Los Angeles on March 9, 2023, at age 89.

Achievements: Starred in Our Gang shorts (1939-1944), played Perry Smith in In Cold Blood (1967), starred in Baretta (1975-1978), won an Emmy Award for Baretta (1975).

Birth: September 18, 1933 - Nutley, New Jersey.

Profession: Actor.

Interesting Facts: He turned down the role of Little Joe Cartwright on Bonanza, which Michael Landon later played. He was reportedly the first actor to use a particular curse word in a mainstream American film, in In Cold Blood.