Cold Blood’s Lost Highway actor Robert Blake has died aged 89

Robert Blake, the controversial actor best known for ‘In Cold Blood’, ‘Lost Highway’ and TV series ‘Baretta’, has died at the age of 89.

It was announced Controversial actor Robert Blake has died today at the age of 89. His niece Noreen Austin confirmed that he died at his home in Los Angeles after a long battle with heart disease. Blake is best known for his roles in Richard Brooks’ adaptation of Truman Capote cold bloodedDavid Lynchs Abandoned highwayand for starring in the 1970s detective series beret.

Robert Blake started out as a child actor, appearing as Mickey in forty episodes of MGMs Our gang short films. He also played Little Beaver in The Twenty-Three Installments Red Ryder film series. He also performed The treasure of the Sierra Madre as a little Mexican boy who sells Humphrey Bogart a lottery ticket. Though many child actors can’t transition into adult roles, Blake has managed to do it. His biggest breakthrough came with cold blooded, where he played the real-life killer Perry Smith. Blake starred alongside Scott Wilson, who played Richard “Dick” Hickock, and the film received rave reviews and even garnered four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Robert Blake went on to appear in films such as Pork Chop Hill, The Purple Gang, PT 109, The Greatest Story Ever, This property is condemned, Tell ’em Willie Boy is here, Corky, Busting, Coast to Coast, Money Train, and more. His last role was as the Mystery Man in David Lynch’s Abandoned highway.

The actor has also appeared in TV shows such as Have Gun – Will Travel, Wagon Train, Naked City, Laramie, Rawhide, The FBI, and more, but his biggest role on the small screen was as detective Anthony Vincenzo “Tony” Baretta in beret. The character was an unconventional detective and master of disguise who lived in a seedy hotel with Fred, his cockatoo. Blake received an Emmy Award for his performance.

Blake also played along hell city as a hard-bitten Catholic priest living in a crime-ridden Los Angeles neighborhood, but left the series after realizing his life was spiraling out of control. “I lived on sleeping pills and junk food‘ Blake said The Los Angeles Times 1992.”I was overweight. My face was puffy and my eyes were old and sad. I got in the limousine to go to the Hell Town filming location every morning and I was so tense I could hardly breathe. My heart hurt, my soul hurt. I’ve always been a fierce competitor and a perfectionist, but all I remember during Hell Town was being scared. One morning I realized I was only days – maybe hours – away from putting a gun in my mouth and pulling the trigger.“

When most think of Robert Blake, they naturally think of the high-profile murder trial in which he was charged with the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley. The couple had been in court for dinner at Vitello’s Italian Restaurant and Bonny was fatally shot in the head while in Blake’s vehicle. The actor claimed he was not present during filming as he claimed he returned to the restaurant to retrieve a gun he had left inside. After a lengthy trial, Blake was found not guilty, but was later found liable in a civil trial for Bonny’s wrongful death and ordered to pay $30 million.