Her will specified that all her memorabilia be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Performing Animals Welfare Society (PAWS). | Source: YouTube/ Most Actor and Actress Hollywood. 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. In the late 1940s, Blake was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as the studio saw her as its next Greer Garson. Spaeth died in 1985 from pneumonia, at only 45, and when he was breathing his last, he opened up to the press, saying that Blake had infected him with the virus. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 'Miss Kitty's' husband files for divorce - UPI Archives A system error has occurred. She followed that up with theater and radio acting in Buffalo In her will, Blake had left her $400,000 estate to PAWS, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society. Search instead in Creative? s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" Back in 1961, the actor took home a massive payday in exchange for selling her residual rights to the show. They thought she had the flu. she died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Malibu, . You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. The beautiful actress earned an outstanding amount from her acting career. and then movies in Hollywood. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Amanda started as a telephone operator before moving to full time acting. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. The life of Amanda Blake is celebrated by many, especially those who had a privilege to watch her great movies. Amanda Blake - IMDb In 1977, the once a heavy smoker Blake went for surgery for oral cancer. Please enter your email and password to sign in. There was an error deleting this problem. 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 How she contracted HIV remains a mystery, but listed on her death certificate as a. Amanda Blake: What Happened to Miss Kitty from 'Gunsmoke'? Please try again later. The AAWL is now the oldest and largest "no-kill" Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. After Miss Blake died at Mercy General Hospital, a statement by the hospital and her friends reported the cause of death as cancer. Dennis Weaver stayed with the show for nine years before he started chafing creatively. 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. Amanda Blake Spouse, Divorce, Children, Net Worth & Death Cause In 1985, she helped finance the start-up of the Performing Animal Welfare Society and devoted a great deal of time and money[clarification needed] in support of its efforts, including travels to Africa. In 1971 she joined with others in Phoenix, Arizona, to form the Arizona She became an animal rights activist. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. She signed several hundred autographed pictures in costume as Kitty Russell. Amanda Blake - Wikipedia There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. On the other hand, American actor and television personality Zachary Knighton has a net worth of $800,000 as of 2023. In 1989, she traveled to Virginia City, Nevada for a special guest appearance at the renowned Miss Kitty's Longbranch Saloon. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). March 12, 1964. She instead devoted more time to her animals. Resend Activation Email. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National AIDS Made Blake Fear for Animal Cause, Friend Says When Amanda Blake signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the late 1940s, the studio believed she would be a star. Spaeth had claimed before he died that Blake had infected him after returning from a trip to Africa. People mostly know her for the role of Miss Kitty Russell on the television series ' Gunsmoke '. Family members linked to this person will appear here. 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.". teens when she debuted in MGM"s, - IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Hafker thehuntzie@yahoo.com (qv;s & corrections by A. Nonymous). Failed to delete flower. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 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'S FIFTH HUSBAND Blake's fifth husband, an Autin, Texas developer, Mark Spaeth, passed away in 1985 - 4 years before Blake - of AIDS. [13] The popular media later widely reported that Blake's doctor claimed that she had actually died of AIDS. Photo: Amanda Blake's Smiling Face Source: Instagram (@tennbluebelle) Blake felt like it was home to her on the days when she was not needed. Amanda Blake (1929-1989) - Find a Grave Memorial If you want to read more similar content like this, keep visiting our pageAllStarBio. Amanda Blake Photos Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images You need a Find a Grave account to continue. They married in April 1984, and divorced a short time later. And in 1964 finally shed the limp and went from a sidekick to a leading man, in NBC's Kentucky Jones. }; Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Blake passed away on August 16, 1989, at the Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Smoked 2-3 packs of cigarettes a day until being diagnosed with oral cancer in 1980. [11], Blake joined with others in 1971 to form the Arizona Animal Welfare League, today the oldest and largest "no-kill" animal shelter in the state. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Try again later. | Source: Getty Images. Then Blake decided it was time to go. Blake would marry her third husband, Frank Gilbert, in the same year she divorced her second husband. The marriage lasted longer, having been together for fifteen years, before divorcing in 1982. Totals: 233 half-hour episodes and 400 hour episodes were filmed. Well, she lived a vibrant lifestyle when she was alive. Blake starred on "Gunsmoke" as saloon owner Miss Kitty for 19 years. Blake was a telephone operator and briefly attended Pomona College before she took up acting.[2][3]. Amanda Blake (1929-1989) Blake was an American actress, best known for her role as Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke. Today, that amount would be equivalent to $774,856. She was the daughter of daughter of Jesse Clayton Neill and Catherine Louise Puckett. A Star Is Born (1954) (Musical, Drama, Romance) 2. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Miss Kitty of the television series, Gunsmoke, Amanda Blake died on August 16, 1989, at the age of 60. She was born in New York City and attended Pomona College before she started acting. var p = 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? The official cause of Amanda Blake's death, as reported by KXRB, was "cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver . Are you a fan of old movies? After her death, Pat Derby founded the Amanda Blake Memorial Wildlife Refuge which offers shelter to wild animals, ranging from antelopes and emus to scimitar-horned oryx, which are now officially extinct in the wild. Later, after a Gunsmoke reunion film, she made two feature-film appearances: in The Boost, a drug-addiction drama starring James Woods and Sean Young, and B.O.R.N, both in 1988. 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. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Try again later. In 1989, Amanda Blake passed away at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. 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. d.getElementById("contentad428986").appendChild(s); Amanda Blake Played Miss Kitty on 'Gunsmoke' inside Life - AmoMama All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. [8] She married Jason Seymour Day Jr. in 1964 and divorced him in 1967. Lets go deeper into Amandas life and find out the secrets about her spouse, children, net worth, death, and salary. He said that she had suffered from AIDS symptoms for about a year but that he did not know how she had contracted the disease. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! After getting separated from her third husband, Amanda got married to Mark Edward. Catherine Moore Kate" Barry (17521823), one of Amanda's ancestors, was a heroine of the American Revolutionary War. | Source: Wikimedia. [6] Kemo lived in an animal compound at her home, at which she and husband Frank Gilbert ran an experimental breeding program for cheetahs. Blake had found out about her status a year before her death and only informed those closest to her. Thanks for your help! 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[5], Blake became best known for her 19-year stint as the saloon-keeper Miss Kitty on the television series Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1974. 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 customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Actress. Amanda However, her fourth and last husband also died of AIDS-related complications. Learn how your comment data is processed. She then enrolled at Pomona College, but since she was already involved avidly in community and theatre productions, she devoted much of her time on acting than the schoolwork. Amanda Blake poses for a photo during the shooting of "Gunsmoke" | Source: YouTube/ Most Actor and Actress Hollywood. Blake, who portrayed the saloon owner in CBS's popular western TV series, left one season before the show ended. Actress Amanda Blake bio: net worth, children, spouse, cause of death [10] She had been known for bringing her pet lion, Kemo, onto the Gunsmoke set. var qs = Object.keys(params).reduce(function(a, k){ a.push(k + '=' + encodeURIComponent(params[k])); return a},[]).join(String.fromCharCode(38)); Required fields are marked *. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. She did appear on a number of television shows, including a recurring comedy routine on The Red Skelton Show; as a celebrity on Hollywood Squares, Tattletales, and the 1970s revival of Match Game; and comedy appearances on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. Real life photo of the Long Branch Saloon taken in 1870 | Source: Wikimedia. But what happened to her, is Amanda Blake still alive? 'Gunsmoke': Why Did Amanda Blake Leave the Show After 19 - Outsider Melanie Bright: 5 interesting facts about Lynette Nusbacher's ex-wife. 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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! 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. [citation needed] Blake married Frank Gilbert in 1967 and divorced him in 1982. . You are already subscribed to our newsletter! Spaeth was, however, widely known to have been a homosexual. Reports later claimed that her cause of death was AIDS, though that wasn't listed on her death certificate. The Amanda Blake Memorial Wildlife Refuge has just celebrated its 23rd anniversary, a just monument to the actress we all remember so fondly as the brazen, but good-hearted Miss Kitty. Amanda Blake was an actress best known for her role as "Miss Kitty Russell" on a western TV series, Gunsmoke. Moreover, Blake married her third spouse, Frank Gilbert in the same year she divorced from her second husband. wid: "428986", Learn more about managing a memorial . Derby says she loved taking care of the unwanted performing animals, adding that they'd noticed her being a bit frail but had absolutely no idea what was ailing her. She portrays Miss Kitty on the western series, Gunsmoke. Even though Blake had been married 5 times, she had no children, and her aunt and cousins had expected to inherit. 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. She followed that up with theater and radio acting in Buffalo and then movies in Hollywood. There is a problem with your email/password. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. However, she again divorced Frank in 1982. There was no denying that Glenn Strange, the actual cowboy-turned actor had made a significant impact on his co-stars. However, they never cited the reason for their separation. However, Spaeth passed away in 1985 from complications of the disease. Amanda started on a full acting schedule, doing summer stock in New England. She spent a third of her life in acting. 1982), and Mark Spaeth (m. 1984; div. Color broadcasts began in 1966. Amanda was born as an only child, and hence had no sister or any known sibling. Amanda Blake Movies 1. Along with her fourth husband, Frank Gilbert, she ran one of the first successful programs for breeding cheetahs in captivity. Amanda's career quickly faltered. Besides, some sources claimed that she had contracted HIV from her ex-husband and died of AIDS-related complications. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. She didnt share any children with her partner. Amanda Blake was a married woman. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", I thought you might like to see a memorial for Amanda Blake I found on Findagrave.com. 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Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. based on information from your browser. Gunsmoke Amanda Blake's Passing Was Originally Related to - AmoMama The American actress and her parents moved to Claremont when Blake was still in high school, a reason Neill graduated from Claremont High. Besides, Blake was rumored to be in a relationship with James Arness, which is still believed as a rumor. However, her doctor disclosed that she died of AIDS-related complications. 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. 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. There was a problem getting your location. Having appeared in several movies and famous series saw her pocket good cash. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Miss Blake, a longtime resident of the Sacramento area, had AIDS symptoms for about a year, Nishimura said. Miss Blake's death certificate, however, listed the immediate cause as cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver failure and CMV hepatitis. Amanda had married multiple times and never gave birth to any kids. 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. Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. The talented actress would get married to Mark Spaeth in 1984. Dr. Lou Nishimura, a Sacramento internist, said Monday that Miss Blake, who died at age 60 on Aug. 16, had throat cancer. The popular media widely reported that Blakes doctor claimed that she had actually died of Aids. She became a supporter of the American Cancer Society and made fundraising appearances throughout the country. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? At the time of her death, it was suggested that she had passed away as a result of oral cancer. Of course, Blake might have netted an even bigger . The show didn't . Blake sure earned a lot of clams working on the show. Amanda Blake is one of those who have contributed to the making of exciting old films. CMV, or cytomegalo virus, hepatitis is AIDS-related, said Dr. Nishimura. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3691/amanda-blake. Her father was a banker. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A heavy chain-smoker, Amanda Blake was diagnosed with oral cancer in 1977 and had surgery for the same. 'Gunsmoke': Amanda Blake Sold Residual Rights for Huge - Outsider Weaver worried he'd never get away from the character. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Try again later. 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. Blake reportedly was a one-time board member of the Humane Society of the United States. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. . Her friend Pat Derby founded a wildlife shelter in her honor in 1997. Amanda Blake Children, Spouse, Cause Of Death, Photos, Net Worth - ABTC John Cho Wife, Net Worth, Age, Wiki, Height, Tina Lifford Age, Bio, Husband, Wiki, Net Worth, Feet. 1967), Frank Gilbert (m. 1967; div. See the article in its original context from. According to Celebrity Networth, her net worth before death was $500 thousand. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. James Arness' 1st Wife Left Behind the Glitz After Their Split - His She became a supporter of the American Cancer Society and made fundraising appearances throughout the country. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Nov. 8, 1989 12 AM PT. + qs; 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. Click to reveal They dance gracefully while listening to saxophone music. Luckily, her cancer never returned. Amanda Blake was born on February 20, 1929, in Buffalo, New York, in the United States of America to Jesse Neill and Louise Neill. In 1976 she hosted the 1st Annual "Sato" 1985), Enrolled at Claremont High School and Pomona College. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/08/us/amanda-blake-died-of-aids-doctor-says.html. But Spaeth was known to be bisexual and moved in a circle of gay friends, and Blake's friends were quick to point out that the actress was neither promiscuous nor a drug user. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. There were controversies relating to cause of death of the amazing actress. GALT, Calif. . Anyone can read what you share. Amanda Blake, "Gunsmoke's" Miss Kitty had a real-life tragic end that no one could have foreseen. This browser does not support getting your location. After sharing a two-year marital relationship, the duo divorced in 1956 without citing the reason behind their separation. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. 1955), Jason Day (m. 1964; div. Lili (1953) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty in the long-running Gunsmoke television series, died of AIDS-related complications, not cancer as previously reported, her doctor said Monday. Blake did have throat cancer, but that wasn't the reason that she died, said Dr. Lou Nishimura, a Sacramento internist. This further contradicted the already mysterious maze. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. The actor did a few films before becoming Miss Kitty. Learn more about how you can collaborate with us. In 1971, Blake joined others in Phoenix, Arizona to form the Arizona Animal Welfare League. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (function(d) { Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. Barbara Bain: husband, daughter, net worth, movies and TV shows. 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. Gunsmoke originated on the radio in 1952 with William Conrad reading the part of Matt Dillon. He would later reveal: There was no recurrence of cancer. Photo by CBS via Getty Images Amanda Blake entered into millions of homes as Miss Kitty on "Gunsmoke" for 19 seasons. exitPopMobile: true, She left Gunsmoke, tired of the role, with a few poignant remarks, 'God, if I have to put on that damn bustle and those curls one more time, I'm gonna snap and then reasoned, nineteen years is a hell of a long time for someone to be stuck behind a bar.' The email does not appear to be a valid email address. After completing her studies, Blake got married to Don Whitman on 22 August 1954. Amanda Blake was an American actress, best known for her role as Miss Kitty Russell in Gunsmoke. Amanda Blake died on 16 August 1989 at Mercy General Hospital, Sacramento, California, United States. 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. On August 16, 1989, Blake died of liver failure brought on by viral hepatitis at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Amanda "Miss Kitty" Blake on a scene in the movie | Source: YouTube/ Most Actor and Actress Hollywood. Some popular media later reported that she died of AIDS as claimed by Blake's doctor. Blake concluded her Gunsmoke television show career with season 19 episode 24 - "The Disciple." Miss Kitty was replaced by Fran Ryan . Why Did Amanda Blake Leave 'Gunsmoke'? - Distractify Amanda Blake was an American actress. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 23 Celebrities Who Lost Their Battle With AIDS - Gay News, LGBT Rights Animal Welfare League. She was the daughter of daughter of Jesse Clayton Neill and Catherine Louise Puckett. 'Gunsmoke': Amanda Blake's Official Cause of Death Wasn't What Her H&I | 17 revealing behind-the-scenes-photos from Gunsmoke 'GUNSMOKE,' Dennis Weaver, Amanda Blake, 1955-1975 / Everett Collection. Amanda Blake was born Beverly Louise Neill in Buffalo, New York,[1] the only child of Jesse and Louise (ne Puckett) Neill. Amanda Blake Died of AIDS, Doctor Says - The New York Times There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Amanda Blake will forever be remembered as Miss Kitty from the cult Western series "Gunsmoke," but her life was just as dramatic, and had a tragically unexpected ending. Whatever Happened To Amanda Blake, Miss Kitty On 'Gunsmoke'? Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Showing Editorial results for amanda blake. Amanda Blake in costume as Kitty Russell, on the set of 'Gunsmoke' in 1967 | Source: Getty Images. Advertisement. However, it was later revealed that the actress had passed away from something worse.