Actor Known As The Star Of “Baretta” And For “In Cold Blood” Dies At 89

Actor Robert Blake is best known for his role in the cop show “Baretta” where he portrayed Tony Baretta. Other notable roles include “In Cold Blood,” “Lost Highway” and “Electra Glide in Blue.”

Actually, Blake may not be best known for his acting career at all. He may be better known for being accused of killing his wife in 2001. He was later acquitted by a jury, but the accusations changed his image and ate up the money he had accumulated during his career.

Now, Noreen Austin, Blake’s daughter, has confirmed that he has died. He was in his Los Angeles home at the time and was surrounded by family. According to Austin, his cause of death was heart disease. He was 89 years old.

Blake was born Michael James Gubitosi. His first acting job in Hollywood was as a child on the show “Our Gang.” He ended up changing his name to Bobby Blake, and his career continued. Another notable childhood role is in the movie “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” He’s the boy who sells Humphrey Bogart the lottery ticket.

His career success continued throughout adulthood with his final acting credit being “Lost Highway” in 1997.

Blake was married two times. The first time was in 1961 to actress Sondra Kerr. The couple had two children, Noah and Delinah, but the marriage didn’t last. They got divorced in 1983.

Then, in 1999, Blake met Bonny Lee Bakley. Bakley ended up giving birth to a girl she named Rosie. She claimed that Marlon Brando’s son, Christian Brando, was the father, but DNA tests made it clear that Blake was actually Rosie’s father.

Blake wanted to be a part of Rosie’s life, so he married Bakley. It was a short-lived marriage. In 2001, the couple was at a restaurant in Studio City when Bakely was fatally shot. Blake was accused of murdering his wife, but he claimed he was innocent. A year after the shooting, police arrested Blake, and he ended up going to court to plead his innocence. In the end, he was acquitted, but he spent all of his money paying for his defense.

Blake wanted to be a part of Rosie’s life, but that didn’t happen. She’s all grown up now, and she admits that she has no idea if her father killed her mother or not.

Watch the video below to learn more about Blake’s life and career.