Family members linked to this person will appear here. She was a heavy smoker and had surgery for oral cancer in 1977. Lili (1953) Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! According to Celebrity Networth, her net worth before death was $500 thousand. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3691/amanda-blake. 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. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Her doctor, Lou Nishimura, revealed that she had died of AIDS complications, but had been said to have died of throat cancer. Amanda Blake and Pat Derby at a PAWS Award event in 1988 | Source: Wikimedia. Having shared a 2-year married life, the two divorced in 1956. There is a problem with your email/password. Please enter your email and password to sign in. 296,669,475 stock photos, 360 panoramic images, vectors and videos, Share Alamy images with your team and customers. Totals: 233 half-hour episodes and 400 hour episodes were filmed. Victoria Valentino: Everything you should know about Bill Cosby's accuser. 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. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. She became an animal rights activist. exitPopMobile: true, She died on August 16, 1989 at the Mercy General Hospital of California, at the age of 60. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. started on a full acting schedule, doing summer stock in New England. Failed to delete memorial. [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. 1985), Enrolled at Claremont High School and Pomona College. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. How she contracted HIV remains a mystery, but listed on her death certificate as a. Production paid Blake a lump sum of $100,000 for the rights. Dennis Weaver stayed with the show for nine years before he started chafing creatively. Her close friends insisted that she was not a drug user or sexually promiscuous. April 27, 1985 'Miss Kitty's' husband files for divorce AUSTIN, Texas -- The husband of actress Amanda Blake, longtime star of the 'Gunsmoke' television series, filed for divorce on the eve. In the late 1940s, Blake was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as the studio saw her as its next Greer Garson. In 1997, the Amanda Blake Memorial Wildlife Refuge opened at Rancho Seco Park in Herald, California. Stars in My Crown (1950) (Drama, Family, Western) 3. 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. Blake married Don Whitman in 1954 and divorced him in 1956. There was a problem getting your location. The official cause of Amanda Blake's death, as reported by KXRB, was "cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver . However, her doctor disclosed that she died of AIDS-related complications. GALT, Calif. . 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". People of all ages love movies. 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. In 1971, Blake joined others in Phoenix, Arizona to form the Arizona Animal Welfare League. 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. While working as a telephone operator, she began doing bit parts for MGM which landed her a contract. To the last day of her life, Blake was devoted to her mission: to save mistreated animals. The year 1952 marked a significant milestone, as Beverly started working in Hollywood television and films. Miss Kitty of the television series, Gunsmoke, Amanda Blake died on August 16, 1989, at the age of 60. Blake died at age 60 on August 16, 1989. It is much more likely that she was infected by Spaeth, than the other way around. d.getElementById("contentad428986").appendChild(s); Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). Try again. She was also nominated for various highly coveted awards. 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. She did several more films and TV series, but due to her central role on TV shows, she got little time for films. The refuge provides sanctuary for free-ranging African hoofed wildlife, most of which were originally destined for exotic animal auctions or hunting ranches.[12]. Please reset your password. var p = 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? 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. In 1954, she appeared in A Star Is Born. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. She passed away at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. She appeared in A Star is Born and eventually Gunsmoke. Ryan Reynolds Wife Cant Believe They Still Married - Their First Date Was a Double With Different People, Man Realizes His Wife Has No Idea She Is Holding Her Baby after Giving Birth Story of the Day, Devastated Parents Adopt Baby Born on Their Late Daughter's Birthday: 'We Were Meant to Meet Her', James Arness 1st Wife Left Behind the Glitz After Their Split - His 2nd Wife Stayed by His Side Until the End, Miranda Lambert, 38, Never Planned to Raise Her Children in a Bus Her Husband Sparked Their Baby Fever, The Reasons Country Stars Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton Broke up, McCloud Star Dennis Weaver Proposed Twice & Wed Wife of 61 Years on the Same Day, Rich Woman Follows Her Daughter and Learns She Visits a Shabby Old Garage Every Day Story of the Day, 'M*A*S*H's Sally Kellerman Lost Husband & Daughter in 3 Months & Still 'Put on a Brave Front' Amid Grief, Ryan Reynolds Is a Needy Father to Three Daughters - His Secret to Parenting & Healthy Relationship with Wife Blake Lively, Man Stumbles upon a Headstone in the Woods and Sees His Childhood Photo on It Story of the Day, Craig Wayne Boyd Was Homeless before Winning 'The Voice' Now He Is Happy Father of Five, Gwen Stefani Went through 'Brutal' Split 6 Years before Marrying Allegedly Cheating 1st Husband, Ron Perlman Called Wife of 38 Years 'The Most Beautiful Girl' Yet Married His Co-star & Kisses Her in Public. The doctor, Lou Nishimura, a Sacramento internist, said Monday that Miss Blake, who died at age 60 on Aug. 16, did have throat cancer. Search instead in Creative? Add to your scrapbook. 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. Amanda Blake was a married woman. var s = d.createElement('script'); s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true; See the article in its original context from. Amanda Blake and Frank Gilbert got married in 1967 and divorced in 1982. READ ALSO: David Silva bio: Wife, nationality, children, stats. She instead devoted more time to her animals. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. | Source: Getty Images. 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. Thanks for your help! Amanda Blake was an actress best known for her role as "Miss Kitty Russell" on a western TV series, Gunsmoke. Everything looks idyllic, and it becomes difficult to stop admiring such movies. At the time of her death, it was suggested that she had passed away as a result of oral cancer. However, the hospital and her friends claimed that she died of cancer. Moreover, there is no information regarding Blakes children. She was still in her Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Furthermore, he was the one with whom she shared a marriage relationship for nearly 15 years. Besides, some sources claimed that she had contracted HIV from her ex-husband and died of AIDS-related complications. Miss Blake, a longtime resident of the Sacramento area, had AIDS symptoms for about a year, Nishimura said. 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. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Amanda started as a telephone operator before moving to full time acting. Learn more about how you can collaborate with us. She died at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Click to reveal Actress. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? Lets go deeper into Amandas life and find out the secrets about her spouse, children, net worth, death, and salary. Who was Carl Sutton in Outer Banks and what happened to her? 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. After a few menial movie appearances, she landed the role at age 26. Amanda Blake was born on February 20, 1929, in Buffalo, New York, in the United States of America to Jesse Neill and Louise Neill. cb: (new Date()).getTime() She passed away on August 16, 1989, at Mercy General Hospital at age 60. Amanda was born as an only child, and hence had no sister or any known sibling. On August 16, 1989, Blake died of liver failure brought on by viral hepatitis at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Her friends had reported that she died of cancer. companies she also painted backdrops and scenery. Blake could have gotten the virus from her husband of less than a year. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. (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. Search above to list available cemeteries. In 1971 she joined with others in Phoenix, Arizona, to form the Arizona [9], After Gunsmoke, Blake went into semi-retirement at her home in Phoenix and took on few film or television projects. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. 87.238.192.249 Real life photo of the Long Branch Saloon taken in 1870 | Source: Wikimedia. she died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Malibu, . 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. [6] Kemo lived in an animal compound at her home, at which she and husband Frank Gilbert ran an experimental breeding program for cheetahs. Weaver worried he'd never get away from the character. Amanda Blake in costume as Kitty Russell, on the set of 'Gunsmoke' in 1967 | Source: Getty Images. Resend Activation Email. She made a Love Boat appearance and was featured in a reunion of Gunsmoke characters in 1987, 'Return to Dodge,' the first of several Gunsmoke TV movies. Spaeth had claimed before he died that Blake had infected him after returning from a trip to Africa. Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. She arrived in Claremont, California during a move with her family. This is a carousel with slides. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Amanda Blake I found on Findagrave.com. 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. Blake passed away on August 16, 1989, at the Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. [7] She was the third performer inducted, after Tom Mix and Gary Cooper, selected in 1958 and in 1966. 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 Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The surprising bit is that she never got any children despite being in those many relationships. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. March 12, 1964. Her body was cremated. After the divorce, Blake tied the knot with her second spouse, Jason Dayin 1964. 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. Spaeth was a city councilman and a developer, and the couple is said to have married for a mutually beneficial financial reason. Blake was a heavy cigarette smoker and had surgery for oral cancer in 1977. Today, that amount would be equivalent to $774,856. Color broadcasts began in 1966. [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. Sorry! A heavy chain-smoker, Amanda Blake was diagnosed with oral cancer in 1977 and had surgery for the same. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Her will specified that all her memorabilia be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Performing Animals Welfare Society (PAWS). Amanda Blake (1929-1989) Blake was an American actress, best known for her role as Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. A longtime friend of actress Amanda Blake says she feared before she died last August that the AIDS disease she had . This left the only other explanation as to where Blake could have contracted the AIDS to be during one of her several trips to Africa, where she often went to watch wildlife. Animal Welfare League. However, her fourth and last husband also died of AIDS-related complications. var params = English While acting in small theater and stock 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. They lived three -years blissfully, however, they eventually separated in 1967 citing irreconcilable differences between them. Year should not be greater than current year. teens when she debuted in MGM"s, - IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Hafker thehuntzie@yahoo.com (qv;s & corrections by A. Nonymous). They thought she had the flu. Additionally, she was also an animal welfare activist. The association is now the oldest and most famous "no-kill" animal shelter in Arizona. Blake felt like it was home to her on the days when she was not needed. There are too many old movies you can choose. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Blake was a telephone operator and briefly attended Pomona College before she took up acting.[2][3]. Moreover, she used to smoke around 2-3 packets of cigarettes a day and was later diagnosed with oral cancer in 1977. "Technically she died of liver failure brought on by viral hepatitis, which was AIDS-related.". In 1976, Amanda hosted the first Annual "Sato" Mutt show. Catherine Moore Kate" Barry (17521823), one of Amanda's ancestors, was a heroine of the American Revolutionary War. Learn more about merges. Amanda Blake and Mark Spaeth marriage did not survive even one year but caused terrible consequences that costed life to the actress. Amanda Blake is one of those who have contributed to the making of exciting old films. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. })(document); Amanda earned an outstanding amount of money out of her acting profession. Amanda Blake was born Beverly Louise Neill in Buffalo, New York,[1] the only child of Jesse and Louise (ne Puckett) Neill. Amanda Blake from "Gunsmoke" | Source: YouTube/ Most Actor and ctress Hollywood. 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. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Smoked 2-3 packs of cigarettes a day until being diagnosed with oral cancer in 1980. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. James Arness as Matt Dillon, Miss Kitty's true love, in 'Gunsmoke' in 1969 | Source: Getty Images. She is of English and Scottish descent. Similarly, they didnt welcome any kids from their marital life. A woman who can ideally remind you of those films is Amanda Blake. 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 She appeared in. Verify and try again. is for general information purposes only. CMV, or cytomegalo virus, hepatitis is AIDS-related, said Dr. Nishimura. After sharing a two-year marital relationship, the duo divorced in 1956 without citing the reason behind their separation. 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. It was the longest marriage for the actress because it lasted 14 years. He would later reveal: There was no recurrence of cancer. Try again later. She was the daughter of daughter of Jesse Clayton Neill and Catherine Louise Puckett. Amanda Blake Movies 1. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Blake reportedly was a one-time board member of the Humane Society of the United States.