American actor Robert Blake, who often played villains and was 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 US industry newspapers “Hollywood Reporter” and “Deadline.com” reported on Thursday (local time). US broadcaster CNN reported the death, citing Blake’s daughter, Delinah Blake. The actor was 89 years old.
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 came to 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 accused of killing his wife of 44 years six months after their marriage.
Bakley was shot dead outside a Los Angeles restaurant. The actor has 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 allegedly 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.
At the criminal trial, Blake was acquitted of the murder charge by a jury in 2005 due to lack of evidence. A little later, the survivors of the dead wife filed a civil lawsuit against Blake – the actor lost the lawsuit. He was ordered to pay millions in damages. The former “Baretta” star later filed for bankruptcy. He no longer acted as an actor.