Her body was cremated. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. The Real Reason Why Amanda Blake Quit 'Gunsmoke' - MSN Even though Blake had been married 5 times, she had no children, and her aunt and cousins had expected to inherit. Animal Welfare League. And in 1964 finally shed the limp and went from a sidekick to a leading man, in NBC's Kentucky Jones. Amanda made her exit from the series following its 19th season, and the show would be canceled only a year later.Contents of this video00:00 - Intro00:36 - Gunsmoke Couldnt Last Without Amanda Blake01:53 - Amanda Blakes True Passion Was Animal Rights03:38 - Amanda Blake Passed Away in 198904:07 - Amanda Blake Was Awarded by Ronald Reagan04:47 - How Did Amanda Blake Die?05:38 - Amanda Blake Didnt Die from Oral Cancer06:46 - How Did Amanda Blake Catch AIDS?07:33 - OutroAmanda Blake made her exit from Gunsmoke because she wanted to spend more time with her animals at her Arizona home. Then Blake decided it was time to go. Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. If you want to read more similar content like this, keep visiting our pageAllStarBio. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Try again later. The doctor said she had suffered from AIDS symptoms for a year, but he would not tell how she had contracted the disease. The American actress and her parents moved to Claremont when Blake was still in high school, a reason Neill graduated from Claremont High. Find the right content for your market. On February 27, 1974, Blake brought a lion named Kemo on to the Gunsmoke set.[6]. Blake had found out about her status a year before her death and only informed those closest to her. Furthermore, he was the one with whom she shared a marriage relationship for nearly 15 years. The surprising bit is that she never got any children despite being in those many relationships. 'Cancer' Death Now Called AIDS-Related | AP News Amanda started on a full acting schedule, doing summer stock in New England. 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. Moreover, she used to smoke around 2-3 packets of cigarettes a day and was later diagnosed with oral cancer in 1977. 'https' : 'http'; Back in 1961, the actor took home a massive payday in exchange for selling her residual rights to the show. 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. While working as a telephone operator, she began doing bit parts for MGM which landed her a contract. Amanda Blake from "Gunsmoke" | Source: YouTube/ Most Actor and ctress Hollywood. [13] The popular media later widely reported that Blake's doctor claimed that she had actually died of AIDS. Amanda Blake Died of AIDS, Doctor Says - The New York Times The doctor, Lou Nishimura, a Sacramento internist, said Monday that Miss Blake, who died at age 60 on Aug. 16, did have throat cancer. The Western series starred Blake as 'Kitty Russell'.| Source: Getty Images. 23 Celebrities Who Lost Their Battle With AIDS - Gay News, LGBT Rights They dance gracefully while listening to saxophone music. Urdy adds: "He was accepted as being gay, and his close friends were known to be gay.. At the time of her death, it was suggested that she had passed away as a result of oral cancer. Memorial services scheduled for Gunsmoke's Amanda Blake + qs; To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. There were controversies relating to cause of death of the amazing actress. | Source: Wikimedia. Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. based on information from your browser. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. 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. [6] Kemo lived in an animal compound at her home, at which she and husband Frank Gilbert ran an experimental breeding program for cheetahs. Required fields are marked *. 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. John Cho Wife, Net Worth, Age, Wiki, Height, Tina Lifford Age, Bio, Husband, Wiki, Net Worth, Feet. in community and theater productions, she was devoting much more time English While acting in small theater and stock 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. From United Press International. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? 1967), Frank Gilbert (m. 1967; div. Dr. Nishimura, an internist in Sacramento said that she suffered from AIDS for about a year. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Amanda had married multiple times and never gave birth to any kids. Amanda Blake Played Miss Kitty on 'Gunsmoke' inside Life - AmoMama Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Amanda Blake (1929-1989) - Find a Grave Memorial 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. This browser does not support getting your location. In her will, Blake had left her $400,000 estate to PAWS, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society. Besides, some sources claimed that she had contracted HIV from her ex-husband and died of AIDS-related complications. May her soul rest in peace. After sharing a two-year marital relationship, the duo divorced in 1956 without citing the reason behind their separation. She did several more films and TV series, but due to her central role on TV shows, she got little time for films. Anyone can read what you share. 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. 464 Amanda Blake Photos Premium High Res Photos Browse 464 amanda blake photos photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Mutt Show in response to all the purebred dog shows. 1955), Jason Day (m. 1964; div. They lived three -years blissfully, however, they eventually separated in 1967 citing irreconcilable differences between them. Search with an image file or link to find similar images, Search for stock images, vectors and videos. Blake died at age 60 on August 16, 1989. In 1971 she joined with others in Phoenix, Arizona, to form the Arizona 1985), Enrolled at Claremont High School and Pomona College. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Miss Blake's fifth husband, Mark Spaeth, a developer and City Councilman in Austin, Tex., died of pneumonia in 1985 at age 45. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. She died at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Weve updated the security on the site. 'Miss Kitty's' husband files for divorce - UPI Archives Photo by CBS via Getty Images Amanda Blake entered into millions of homes as Miss Kitty on "Gunsmoke" for 19 seasons. She and her parents moved to Amanda Blake attends Life Organization Benefit Fundraiser on February 11, 1986 at Gallagher's Restaurant in Los Angeles, California.| Source: Getty Images. Color broadcasts began in 1966. Your email address will not be published. James Arness' 1st Wife Left Behind the Glitz After Their Split - His 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. It is much more likely that she was infected by Spaeth, than the other way around. 1982), and Mark Spaeth (m. 1984; div. Amanda Blake was a big animal lover over the course of her lifetime, and she took her love of animals farther than most. Try again later. In 1985, Blake received the American Cancer Society's Sword of Hope award. After a few menial movie appearances, she landed the role at age 26. Amanda Blake died on 16 August 1989 at Mercy General Hospital, Sacramento, California, United States. Miss Blake, a longtime resident of the Sacramento area, had AIDS symptoms for about a year, Nishimura said. Sadly, he died at the age of 74 due to lung cancer, two years before the coming to the end of the show. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. A Star Is Born (1954) (Musical, Drama, Romance) 2. She signed several hundred autographed pictures in costume as Kitty Russell. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. Her friend Pat Derby founded a wildlife shelter in her honor in 1997. However, Spaeth passed away in 1985 from complications of the disease. Victoria Valentino: Everything you should know about Bill Cosby's accuser. Are you a fan of old movies? 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. But what happened to her, is Amanda Blake still alive? 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. After Miss Blake died at Mercy General Hospital, a statement by the hospital and her friends reported the cause of death as cancer. He said he didn't know how she contracted the disease.