She spent a third of her life in acting. Her friends had reported that she died of cancer. 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. Learn how and when to remove this template message, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, "7 things you never knew about the great Amanda Blake of Gunsmoke", "Amanda Blake's Lion Upsets 'Gunsmoke' Set", "AMANDA BLAKE, 60, WHO PLAYED MISS KITTY ON LONG-RUNNING 'GUNSMOKE' SERIES, DIES", The Amanda Blake Memorial Wildlife Refuge, "Friendsand Her Doctorsay AIDS, Not Cancer, Killed Gunsmoke's Amanda Blake", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amanda_Blake&oldid=1146028062, Articles needing additional references from July 2020, All articles needing additional references, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from August 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Game show: one week/5 episodes with husband Frank, Episode: "Nouveau Gypsies", (final appearance), This page was last edited on 22 March 2023, at 10:20. However, Spaeth passed away in 1985 from complications of the disease. US actress, in a publicity portrait issued fo the US television series, 'Gunsmoke', USA, circa 1960. In 1976, Amanda hosted the first Annual "Sato" Mutt show. 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. Try again later. But he added, That wasn't the reason that she died.. Her close friends insisted that she was not a drug user or sexually promiscuous. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Her will specified that all her memorabilia be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Performing Animals Welfare Society (PAWS). s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" Amanda spent her last years dedicated to her beloved animal conservation causes and died at 60 of what was officially declared to be a cardio-pulmonary failure and viral hepatitis, but the truth was much more dramatic. A longtime friend of actress Amanda Blake says she feared before she died last August that the AIDS disease she had . According to Celebrity Networth, her net worth before death was $500 thousand. Taking A Look At The Cast Of 'Gunsmoke' Then And Now 2020 - DoYouRemember? How she contracted HIV remains a mystery, but listed on her death certificate as a. 23 Celebrities Who Lost Their Battle With AIDS - Gay News, LGBT Rights 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. 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. The popular media widely reported that Blakes doctor claimed that she had actually died of Aids. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Amanda had married multiple times and never gave birth to any kids. Amanda Blake Children, Spouse, Cause Of Death, Photos, Net Worth - ABTC She was born in New York City and attended Pomona College before she started acting. Photo: Amanda Blake's Smiling Face Source: Instagram (@tennbluebelle) 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? Weaver worried he'd never get away from the character. 'Gunsmoke': Why Did Amanda Blake Leave the Show After 19 - Outsider Blake did have throat cancer, but that wasn't the reason that she died, said Dr. Lou Nishimura, a Sacramento internist. After sharing a two-year marital relationship, the duo divorced in 1956 without citing the reason behind their separation. Amanda Blake: cause of death, spouse, children - Tuko.co.ke [13] The popular media later widely reported that Blake's doctor claimed that she had actually died of AIDS. [9], After Gunsmoke, Blake went into semi-retirement at her home in Phoenix and took on few film or television projects. The show didn't . The screen sensation would tie the knot again with Jason Day in 1964, and after a three-year marriage, the relationship came to an end in 1967. It is much more likely that she was infected by Spaeth, than the other way around. Catherine Moore Kate" Barry (17521823), one of Amanda's ancestors, was a heroine of the American Revolutionary War. Miss Blake died Wednesday night at Mercy General Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Jerri Ewen. She was born Beverly Louise Neill on 20th February 1929 in Buffalo, New York in the US. Amanda started on a full acting schedule, doing summer stock in New England. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c0d2dba7edb6997 In 1989, Amanda Blake passed away at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. She followed that up with theater and radio acting in Buffalo Blake starred on "Gunsmoke" as saloon owner Miss Kitty for 19 years. [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. She warned local patriots of Banastre Tarleton's approach, giving them time to group and prepare for the Battle of Cowpens (January 17, 1781), a major American victory that helped pave the way for the British defeat at Yorktown. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Try again later. Sorry! Failed to report flower. Actress. 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. In 1977, the once a heavy smoker Blake went for surgery for oral cancer. Amanda Blake quit 'Gunsmoke' before she was fired. Whatever Happened To Amanda Blake, Miss Kitty On 'Gunsmoke'? This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. { The marriage lasted longer, having been together for fifteen years, before divorcing in 1982. Having appeared in several movies and famous series saw her pocket good cash. She began enrolling for stage plays. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. After getting separated from her third husband, Amanda got married to Mark Edward. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. She is of English and Scottish descent. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", There was no denying that Glenn Strange, the actual cowboy-turned actor had made a significant impact on his co-stars. Additionally, she was also an animal welfare activist. [8] She married Jason Seymour Day Jr. in 1964 and divorced him in 1967. Urdy adds: "He was accepted as being gay, and his close friends were known to be gay.. Amanda Blake Played Miss Kitty on 'Gunsmoke' inside Life - AmoMama 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. While acting in small theater and stock companies she also painted backdrops and scenery. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The Real Reason Why Amanda Blake Quit 'Gunsmoke' - MSN [1] After the divorce from Whitman, she would go to the 'saloon set' of Gunsmoke. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Spaeth had claimed before he died that Blake had infected him after returning from a trip to Africa. Year should not be greater than current year. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. The talented actress would get married to Mark Spaeth in 1984. GALT, Calif. . 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. Amanda Blake is one of those who have contributed to the making of exciting old films. The Western series starred Blake as 'Kitty Russell'.| Source: Getty Images. Following her recovery, she toured the country with the American Cancer Society. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Amanda Blake. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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. She was the daughter of daughter of Jesse Clayton Neill and Catherine Louise Puckett. 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.' Her body was cremated. Amanda Blake Movies 1. After completing her studies, Blake was married to her first spouse, Don Whitman on 22nd August 1954. She didnt share any children with her partner. Blake, who portrayed the saloon owner in CBS's popular western TV series, left one season before the show ended. Blake concluded her Gunsmoke television show career with season 19 episode 24 - "The Disciple." Miss Kitty was replaced by Fran Ryan . Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Promotional shot of Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty in 'Gunsmoke,' circa 1967 | Source: Wikimedia. 296,669,475 stock photos, 360 panoramic images, vectors and videos, Share Alamy images with your team and customers. On August 16, 1989, Blake died of liver failure brought on by viral hepatitis at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Amanda Blake and Frank Gilbert got married in 1967 and divorced in 1982. The surprising bit is that she never got any children despite being in those many relationships. Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. Amanda Blake was a big animal lover over the course of her lifetime, and she took her love of animals farther than most. The stunning American actress, Amanda Blake was best known for her roles in the classic western series Gunsmoke as Miss Kitty. It was the longest marriage for the actress because it lasted 14 years. 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. Besides that, check out the relationship status of American actress and television personality Maya Rudolph. Memorial services scheduled for Gunsmoke's Amanda Blake Amanda Blake was a popular American actress best known for the role of the red-haired saloon proprietress "Miss Kitty Russell" on the western television series Gunsmoke. How did Amanda Blake die? 1982), and Mark Spaeth (m. 1984; div. 'Gunsmoke': Amanda Blake Sold Residual Rights for Huge - Outsider Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. CMV, or cytomegalo virus, hepatitis is AIDS-related, said Dr. Nishimura. Her father was a banker. Amanda Blake's Death Was AIDS-Related, Doctor Says - AP NEWS Besides, Blake was involved in the animal welfare program and held lots of programs against animal killing, and spent a lot of money on cancer patients and the well-being of animals. Well, she lived a vibrant lifestyle when she was alive. Then Blake decided it was time to go. Concerned about her failing health, Derby and her husband coerced Blake to seek medical attention, and that's when they visited Dr. Nishimura, who then disclosed what she was suffering from. Nishiruma says that Blake's cause of death was related to Acquired Immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). For her iconic role in "Gunsmoke," Blake was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers, joining actors Tom Mix and Gary Cooper as the third-ever inductee. 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. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. You can always change this later in your Account settings. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. animal shelter in Arizona. 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. She was a heavy smoker and had surgery for oral cancer in 1977. Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. Her television roles included Split Playhouse of Stars, Cavalcade of America and Four-star Playhouse. 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. (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. H&I | 17 revealing behind-the-scenes-photos from Gunsmoke She followed that up with theater and radio acting in Buffalo and then movies in Hollywood. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Weve updated the security on the site. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Miss Blake's fifth husband, Mark Spaeth, a developer and City Councilman in Austin, Tex., died of pneumonia in 1985 at age 45. . Gunsmoke originated on the radio in 1952 with William Conrad reading the part of Matt Dillon. Amanda blake hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy 1967), Frank Gilbert (m. 1967; div. Amanda Blake was born Beverly Louise Neill in Buffalo, New York,[1] the only child of Jesse and Louise (ne Puckett) Neill. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Amanda Blake Bio (Wiki) - Married Biography 'https' : 'http'; AIDS Made Blake Fear for Animal Cause, Friend Says Spaeth died in 1985. Advertisement. 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 The official cause of Amanda Blake's death, as reported by KXRB, was "cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver . AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. Blake felt like it was home to her on the days when she was not needed. However, she again divorced Frank in 1982. 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. Blake was a heavy cigarette smoker and had surgery for oral cancer in 1977. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Spaeth was a city councilman and a developer, and the couple is said to have married for a mutually beneficial financial reason. She was 60. Miss Kitty of the television series, Gunsmoke, Amanda Blake died on August 16, 1989, at the age of 60. Even though Blake had been married 5 times, she had no children, and her aunt and cousins had expected to inherit. }; In her will, Blake had left her $400,000 estate to PAWS, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society. The doctor, Lou Nishimura, a Sacramento internist, said Monday that Miss Blake, who died at age 60 on Aug. 16, did have throat cancer. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. "Technically she died of liver failure brought on by viral hepatitis, which was AIDS-related.". Add to your scrapbook. The stone displays her given name Beverly Louise Neill. A Star Is Born (1954) (Musical, Drama, Romance) 2. The Walking Dead cast salary 2023: Who is the highest-paid per episode? She became a supporter of the American Cancer Society and made fundraising appearances throughout the country. Her doctor, Lou Nishimura, revealed that she had died of AIDS complications, but had been said to have died of throat cancer. She signed several hundred autographed pictures in costume as Kitty Russell. She was born in Buffalo, New York as Beverly Louise Neill, an only child. Required fields are marked *. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Miss Blake's death certificate, nevertheless, stated the immediate cause of death as CMV hepatitis and cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver failure. In 1971 she joined with others in Phoenix, Arizona, to form the Arizona Please try again later. After completing her studies, Blake got married to Don Whitman on 22 August 1954. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. While working as a telephone operator, she began doing bit parts for MGM which landed her a contract. 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. [citation needed] Blake married Frank Gilbert in 1967 and divorced him in 1982. Blake's fifth husband, an Autin, Texas developer, Mark Spaeth, passed away in 1985 - 4 years before Blake - of AIDS. Blake had been living with her friend Pat and her husband on their ranch where they had a shelter for performing animals who had been abandoned when they became too old to perform. Amanda Blake was an American actress. Amanda Blake Spouse, Divorce, Children, Net Worth & Death Cause This account has been disabled. They thought she had the flu. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Today, that amount would be equivalent to $774,856. Victoria Valentino: Everything you should know about Bill Cosby's accuser. The actor did a few films before becoming Miss Kitty. In 1971, Blake joined others in Phoenix, Arizona to form the Arizona Animal Welfare League. There is a problem with your email/password. and then movies in Hollywood. Along with her fourth husband, Frank Gilbert, she ran one of the first successful programs for breeding cheetahs in captivity. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (function(d) { She passed away at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Gunsmoke Amanda Blake's Passing Was Originally Related to - AmoMama Actress. Kitty left Gunsmoke due to the death of Glen. Learn more about merges. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only.