Are you a fan of old movies? 1967), Frank Gilbert (m. 1967; div. This further contradicted the already mysterious maze. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Her father was a banker. Try again later. On the other hand, American actor and television personality Zachary Knighton has a net worth of $800,000 as of 2023. Blake passed away on August 16, 1989, at the Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Blake was a telephone operator and briefly attended Pomona College before she took up acting.[2][3]. Only three months after her death, a spokeswoman for Mercy General Hospital, Jerri Ewen, came forward to put the facts straight, reporting that she had indicated Blake's death as cancer at the request of close friends to the diseased. Miss Blake's fifth husband, Mark Spaeth, a developer and City Councilman in Austin, Tex., died of pneumonia in 1985 at age 45. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Tiny Texie: 5 interesting facts you should know, 120+ coolest photography names for your Instagram business page, 50+ posing quotes and captions for your Instagram photos, Labour Day: Light Moment as Preacher Prays for Raila to Retire Peacefully, Stop Maandamano, Hollywood writers strike looms as deadline nears, Relief at First Republic sale, but US banks still face pressure, Samburu Police Officer Who'd Been Taken for Counselling Runs Away from Facility, Disappears, Francis Atwoli Asks William Ruto to Find Job for Raila Odinga: "Asisikumwe Sana". var params = Spaeth died in 1985. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Amanda Blake, the actress who played Miss Kitty on the long-running television series ''Gunsmoke,'' died of AIDS-related complications and not, as a hospital and her friends reported at the time, of cancer, her doctor says. The actor did a few films before becoming Miss Kitty. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. She didnt share any children with her partner. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3691/amanda-blake. After a few menial movie appearances, she landed the role at age 26 that would make her a household name for the next 20 years, Miss Kathleen "Kitty" Russell. 87.238.192.249 Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. She arrived in Claremont, California during a move with her family. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Add to your scrapbook. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. The actress has been gone for almost three decades now, but Blake's legacy lives on as the fiery Miss Kitty of the famous American classic. { Amanda Blake attends Life Organization Benefit Fundraiser on February 11, 1986 at Gallagher's Restaurant in Los Angeles, California.| Source: Getty Images. Catherine Moore Kate" Barry (17521823), one of Amanda's ancestors, was a heroine of the American Revolutionary War. March 12, 1964. Amanda Blake, the actress who played Miss Kitty on the long-running television series ''Gunsmoke,'' died of AIDS-related complications and not, as a hospital and her friends reported at the. CMV, or cytomegalo virus, hepatitis is AIDS-related, said Dr. Nishimura. The American bold and beautiful actress was a married woman. She and her parents moved to While working as a telephone operator, she began doing bit parts for MGM which landed her a contract. The AAWL is now the oldest and largest "no-kill" She was a heavy smoker and had surgery for oral cancer in 1977. From United Press International. Amanda Blake was a married woman. Miss Kitty of the television series, Gunsmoke, Amanda Blake died on August 16, 1989, at the age of 60. There was a problem getting your location. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. This account has been disabled. She followed that up with theater and radio acting in Buffalo However, her fourth and last husband also died of AIDS-related complications. Well, she lived a vibrant lifestyle when she was alive. Spaeth had claimed before he died that Blake had infected him after returning from a trip to Africa. Amanda Blake was a beloved film and television actress that audiences will likely most fondly remember as the character of Miss Kitty on the long-running Western television series Gunsmoke. Amanda Blake and Pat Derby at a PAWS Award event in 1988 | Source: Wikimedia. With her fierce loyalty, Louise found fame in Hollywood. A longtime heavy smoker, she was forced to undergo oral cancer surgery and then had to enter therapy to enable her to regain some speech. Along with her fourth husband, Frank Gilbert, she ran one of the first successful programs for breeding cheetahs in captivity. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Her close friends insisted that she was not a drug user or sexually promiscuous. Unfortunately, her private life was far less glamorous. He said he didn't know how she contracted the disease. animal shelter in Arizona. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c0d2dba7edb6997 She passed away on August 16, 1989, at Mercy General Hospital at age 60. Her television roles included Split Playhouse of Stars, Cavalcade of America and Four-star Playhouse. GALT, Calif. . "Technically she died of liver failure brought on by viral hepatitis, which was AIDS-related.". Did you know that Gunsmokes Amanda Blake was a renowned animal-rights activist and that she helped establish numerous animal-rights foundations that are still doing incredible work today? James Arness as Matt Dillon, Miss Kitty's true love, in 'Gunsmoke' in 1969 | Source: Getty Images. [9], After Gunsmoke, Blake went into semi-retirement at her home in Phoenix and took on few film or television projects. Dr. Lou Nishimura, a Sacramento internist, said Monday that Miss Blake, who died at age 60 on Aug. 16, had throat cancer. Search instead in Creative? 296,669,475 stock photos, 360 panoramic images, vectors and videos, Share Alamy images with your team and customers. In 1971, Blake joined others in Phoenix, Arizona to form the Arizona Animal Welfare League. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. [2][4] She appeared in a few Hollywood films, such as the 1952 western Cattle Town and in the starring role of Miss Robin Crusoe, a 1954 adaptation of the Robinson Crusoe adventure. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Try again later. Animal Welfare League. By old, we mean the films of the 50s where you find gentlemen smiling while smoking, and ladies giggling joyfully while they show their modest dresses. Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Kitty left Gunsmoke due to the death of Glen. See the article in its original context from. d.getElementById("contentad428986").appendChild(s); If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Amanda Blake was an actress best known for her role as "Miss Kitty Russell" on a western TV series, Gunsmoke. People mostly know her for the role of Miss Kitty Russell on the television series ' Gunsmoke '. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. She began enrolling for stage plays. Blake had found out about her status a year before her death and only informed those closest to her. Meet Adelia Clooney, the Smartest of the Clooney Family According to Her Father, Anupama Nadella Is 'An Amazing Woman' Facts about Satya Nadella's Wife, Shane Gillis' Girlfriend Is Not a Feminist Facts about the Comedian's Dating History, Julie Andrews Misses Her Husband 'like Crazy' after Trying to Save Him from the 'Monster' of Self-Medication, Blake Shelton Fell for Miranda Lambert While Still Married They Divorced after He Met Gwen Stefani, Gwen Stefani Found True Love with Blake Shelton after She Faced Infidelity, her life was just as dramatic, and had a tragically unexpected ending. James Arness as Matt Dillon, Miss Kitty's true love, in 'Gunsmoke' in 1969 | Source: Getty Images It was the longest marriage for the actress because it lasted 14 years. she died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Malibu, . Her movies assured you of a great evening with your friends or a fine rest after a stressful working day. There was no denying that Glenn Strange, the actual cowboy-turned actor had made a significant impact on his co-stars. The show didn't . The impact of his death was so significant that Blake, who played Miss Kitty, could not handle it and was written out of the show the year after. Blake, who portrayed the saloon owner in CBS's popular western TV series, left one season before the show ended. Blake sure earned a lot of clams working on the show. 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The doctor said she had suffered from AIDS symptoms for a year, but he would not tell how she had contracted the disease. Photo: Amanda Blake's Smiling Face Source: Instagram (@tennbluebelle) This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. She was born Beverly Louise Neill on 20th February 1929 in Buffalo, New York in the US. While living on a ranch at nearby Galt, California, she was admitted to Mercy General hospital in Sacramento where she died at the age of 60. exitPopMobile: true, Amanda Blake and Mark Spaeth marriage did not survive even one year but caused terrible consequences that costed life to the actress. On February 27, 1974, Blake brought a lion named Kemo on to the Gunsmoke set.[6]. She did several more films and TV series, but due to her central role on TV shows, she got little time for films. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. (April 28, 1984 - May 27, 1985) (his death), (August 15, 1964 - June 28, 1967) (divorced), (August 22, 1954 - August 21, 1956) (divorced), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. The beautiful actress earned an outstanding amount from her acting career. Amanda Blake Movies 1. and then movies in Hollywood. Of course, Blake might have netted an even bigger . Back in 1961, the actor took home a massive payday in exchange for selling her residual rights to the show. Your email address will not be published. Blake could have gotten the virus from her husband of less than a year. Learn how your comment data is processed. Nishiruma says that Blake's cause of death was related to Acquired Immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? Blake left the world forever at the Mercy General Hospital of California. But he added, That wasn't the reason that she died.. Full Name: Amanda Blake Age: 6o Years at her time of death Death Date: 16 August 1989 Place of Death: Mercy General Hospital, Sacramento, California, United States Profession: Actress (Active from 1950-1989) Famous TV Appearance: Gunsmoke (as Miss Kitty Russell) Details of Her Acting Career Did you know that Gunsmoke's Amanda Blake was a renowned animal-rights activist and that she helped establish numerous animal-rights foundations that are sti. However, the hospital and her friends claimed that she died of cancer. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. She died at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. They would then send their cheetahs to zoos. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", Stars in My Crown (1950) (Drama, Family, Western) 3. Amanda Blake was an actress best known for her role as "Miss Kitty Russell" on a western TV series, Gunsmoke. Blake was a heavy cigarette smoker and had surgery for oral cancer in 1977. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. In 1976, Amanda hosted the first Annual "Sato" Mutt show. However, Jane Price, Blake's former housekeeper, claimed that Blake had opened up to her and told her that they'd not consummated their marriage. Blake felt like it was home to her on the days when she was not needed. The association is now the oldest and most famous "no-kill" animal shelter in Arizona. Smoked 2-3 packs of cigarettes a day until being diagnosed with oral cancer in 1980. Copyright 02/05/2023 Alamy Ltd. All rights reserved. And in 1964 finally shed the limp and went from a sidekick to a leading man, in NBC's Kentucky Jones. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. var p = 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? Gina Kimmel: 10 things to know about Jimmy Kimmel's ex-wife, READ ALSO: Pat Sajak's wife, kids, and house. | Source: YouTube/ Most Actor and Actress Hollywood. READ ALSO: Alesha Dixon's family: husband, children, parents, Get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in Kenya, Asian markets open higher as investors weigh Wall Street losses, Men with Money Fall in Love with Me and Beg for Marriage, Brags Nairobi Lady Married to Mzungu, Europe's produce at stake in Spain's water war, Australia targets Big Tobacco in crackdown on vaping, Qantas names Vanessa Hudson as first female chief executive, What happened to Scott on Counting Cars? We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. In 1984, she was the recipient of the society's annual Courage Award, which was presented to her by then U.S. President Ronald Reagan. In 1977, the once a heavy smoker Blake went for surgery for oral cancer. . John Cho Wife, Net Worth, Age, Wiki, Height, Tina Lifford Age, Bio, Husband, Wiki, Net Worth, Feet. Blake married Don Whitman in 1954 and divorced him in 1956. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. However, her doctor disclosed that she died of AIDS-related complications. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Gunsmoke originated on the radio in 1952 with William Conrad reading the part of Matt Dillon. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Her doctor, Lou Nishimura, revealed that she had died of AIDS complications, but had been said to have died of throat cancer. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. She was only 60 years old. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. They married in April 1984, and divorced a short time later. She instead devoted more time to her animals. in community and theater productions, she was devoting much more time A close friend Pat Derby disclosed that Blake, after finding out she had AIDS, had moved to Derby's 20-acre preserve. On August 16, 1989, Blake died of liver failure brought on by viral hepatitis at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Amanda Blake, "Gunsmoke's" Miss Kitty had a real-life tragic end that no one could have foreseen. Lets go deeper into Amandas life and find out the secrets about her spouse, children, net worth, death, and salary. [7] She was the third performer inducted, after Tom Mix and Gary Cooper, selected in 1958 and in 1966. [citation needed] She married Mark Edward Spaeth in 1984. Year should not be greater than current year. Amanda Blake poses for a photo during the shooting of "Gunsmoke" | Source: YouTube/ Most Actor and Actress Hollywood. Amanda Blake. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Required fields are marked *. Amanda Blake (1929-1989) Blake was an American actress, best known for her role as Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke. Blake's fifth husband, an Autin, Texas developer, Mark Spaeth, passed away in 1985 - 4 years before Blake - of AIDS. In 1989, Amanda Blake passed away at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. How did Amanda Blake die? cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [6] Kemo lived in an animal compound at her home, at which she and husband Frank Gilbert ran an experimental breeding program for cheetahs. Amanda had married multiple times and never gave birth to any kids. She arrived in Claremont, California during a move with her family. However, Spaeth passed away in 1985 from complications of the disease. Amanda Blake was a big animal lover over the course of her lifetime, and she took her love of animals farther than most. Amanda Blake began with the series and when she left, it went into the tank after one final year. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. In 1997, the Amanda Blake Memorial Wildlife Refuge opened at Rancho Seco Park in Herald, California. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. With her third husband Frank Gilbert, Blake started an experimental breeding program for cheetahs, and successfully raised seven generations of the beautiful, but endangered animals. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Amanda Blake and Frank Gilbert got married in 1967 and divorced in 1982. GREAT NEWS! cb: (new Date()).getTime() Melanie Bright: 5 interesting facts about Lynette Nusbacher's ex-wife. Try again later. People of all ages love movies. Amanda started on a full acting schedule, doing summer stock in New England. This browser does not support getting your location. Weaver worried he'd never get away from the character. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. A longtime friend of actress Amanda Blake says she feared before she died last August that the AIDS disease she had . Blake had indeed been diagnosed and treated for cancer in 1977 and had become a staunch supporter of the American Cancer Society, receiving the organization's Courage Award at the hands of President Ronald Reagan for her fundraising efforts. Failed to delete flower. When Gunsmoke's Amanda Blake passed on at 60, it was extensively reported that she'd succumbed to cancer, but her friends and doctors knew more than they were letting on. In her will, Blake had left her $400,000 estate to PAWS, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society. Sadly, he died at the age of 74 due to lung cancer, two years before the coming to the end of the show. One time, the actress made headlines as a result of her bringing her pet lion to the set of Gunsmoke.In addition to her beloved pet lion, Amanda Blake also had several pet cheetahs. })(document); Amanda earned an outstanding amount of money out of her acting profession. [1] After the divorce from Whitman, she would go to the 'saloon set' of Gunsmoke. Amanda Blake was born in Buffalo, NY, of English and Scottish descent. After sharing a two-year marital relationship, the duo divorced in 1956 without citing the reason behind their separation. Blake had won the role of feisty Miss Kitty in 1955 and would play her to the hilt for the next 19 years until the show was canceled in 1974. CBS' Gunsmoke (1955 to1975) was TV's longest running Western as well as its longest running prime-time series with continuing characters. The five-time married actress was cremated without fanfare and her ashes were given to her family for disposition. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. There are too many old movies you can choose. A former colleague of Spaeth, Charles Urdy, says with Spaeth being well-off and Blake seeming to have been undergoing financial difficulties, the two opted for marriage. And while her death certificate showed the cause of death to be CMV Hepatitis and cardiopulmonary arrest, Dr. Lou Nishiruma, Blake's doctor, repudiates the claims. After enduring oral cancer surgery in 1984, the American Cancer Society awarded her with its Courage Award which was presented to her in Washington, DC by President Reagan. Amanda Blake was everyone's favorite actress on the TV series "Gunsmoke." When she died in 1989, an official report from the Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, where she had been receiving treatment, said she'd died from cancer. However, they never cited the reason for their separation. Click to reveal To use this feature, use a newer browser. While acting in small theater and stock Then Blake decided it was time to go. Because of her continuing role on television, Blake rarely had time for films. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. The stunning redhead was to participate sporadically in films throughout her stint on "Gunsmoke," but did guest on several shows including "The Red Skelton Show," "Hollywood Squares," and "Match Game.". Arness peers over a collar of leis he received after he crossed the finish line first in the Multihull Transpacific Yacht Race, Sunday, July 15, 1968, in Honolulu. Blake had wanted to keep her diagnosis and subsequent illness out of the headlines, but when her relatives decided to contest her will, claiming her cognition was impaired, her best friend Pat Derby revealed the truth. She appeared in. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. She became a supporter of the American Cancer Society and made fundraising appearances throughout the country. Enter Mark Spaeth, Blake's fifth husband. For many, Gunsmoke was not just another TV western; it was an epic journey which thousands if not millions had followed for over two decades. Additionally, she was also an animal welfare activist. In 1957, Blake guest-starred as Betty Lavon-Coate in the episode titled "Coate of Many Colors" on Rod Cameron's crime drama, State Trooper. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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Everything looks idyllic, and it becomes difficult to stop admiring such movies. Having shared a 2-year married life, the two divorced in 1956. Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1968. Amanda blake hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Amanda blake Stock Photos and Images (849) See amanda blake stock video clips Quick filters: Black & white amanda_blake_kitty_gunsmoke amanda blake 1974 amanda blake 1981 amanda blake 1986 amanda blake 1987 amanda blake gunsmoke amanda blake miss kitty gunsmoke When Amanda Blake signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the late 1940s, the studio believed she would be a star. The doctor, Lou Nishimura, a Sacramento internist, said Monday that Miss Blake, who died at age 60 on Aug. 16, did have throat cancer. Following her recovery, she toured the country with the American Cancer Society. Who was Carl Sutton in Outer Banks and what happened to her? She was married four times in her life. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 1985), Enrolled at Claremont High School and Pomona College. s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" She was 60. Her will specified that all her memorabilia be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Performing Animals Welfare Society (PAWS). Dr. Nishimura spoke after a report by television station KRBK in Sacramento, where Miss Blake was a longtime resident, quoted her friends as saying now that her death was related to AIDS. At the time, Miss Kitty's Longbranch Saloon was owned and operated by producer, director and cinematographer Virgil E. Hammond III. Miss Blake's death certificate, however, listed the immediate cause as cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver failure and CMV hepatitis. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. The Walking Dead cast salary 2023: Who is the highest-paid per episode? To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Many have been interested in knowing Amanda Blake net worth. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. AMANDA BLAKE'S FIFTH HUSBAND Blake's fifth husband, an Autin, Texas developer, Mark Spaeth, passed away in 1985 - 4 years before Blake - of AIDS. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Noting that there had been no recurrence of her cancer, she reported: "Technically she died of liver failure brought on by viral hepatitis, which was AIDS-related.". Amanda Blake was an American actress. Actress. Amanda Blake quit 'Gunsmoke' before she was fired. 'GUNSMOKE,' Dennis Weaver, Amanda Blake, 1955-1975 / Everett Collection. Try again. Learn more about how you can collaborate with us. He would later reveal: There was no recurrence of cancer. English Jerri Ewen, who was the Mercy General spokeswoman, had reported cancer as the cause of death at the request of Blake's close friends. She followed that up with theater and radio acting in Buffalo and then movies in Hollywood. Moreover, she used to smoke around 2-3 packets of cigarettes a day and was later diagnosed with oral cancer in 1977. Ewen said she never saw the death certificate and that she reported what the friends and family wished. Her close friends have insisted that she was not a drug user or sexually promiscuous, and that she may have acquired the disease from a former husband.[14]. Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National In 1989, she traveled to Virginia City, Nevada for a special guest appearance at the renowned Miss Kitty's Longbranch Saloon. August 17, 1989 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Actress Amanda Blake, who as Miss Kitty reigned for 19 years as the queen of Dodge City's Long Branch Saloon in the TV series Gunsmoke, died after a long battle with cancer. Weve updated the security on the site. At the time of her death, it was suggested that she had passed away as a result of oral cancer. Arness and Blake get big laughs at Dennis Weaver's rope fumbling during a rehearsal. Amanda became an avid American Cancer Society spokesperson highlighting the evils of smoking which resulted in the annual Courage Award from the Society presented to her by then President Ronald Reagan.