Robert Blake was an early child actor that made a good living well into his adulthood. Unfortunately, he became more renown for his personal life than acting. It's funny, the role I most identify him was his turn in Humphrey Bogart's Treasures of the Sierra Madre. He was a frequent guest on Johnny Carson's show, but met someone far more devastating than him.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
Posts: 17565 | Location: Texas | Registered: May 13, 2003
I think David Lynch's assessment is correct. Blake didn't give a damn what anyone thought about him.
And while I appreciate everyone alluding only vaguely to it because this is an obituary thread, yes, all indications are that Robert Blake murdered his second wife. Frankly, though, from what I heard about her, she was a walking homicide for years and whoever killed her did a favor for society.
Had completely forgotten until reading a bio that he was on the "Our Gang" serials (AKA "The Little Rascals) and also Little Beaver on the "Red Ryder" series during the '40s.
Posts: 3481 | Location: Fairfax Co. VA | Registered: August 03, 2015
I remember Robert Blake on "The Tonight Show" with Carson, telling a joke that was pretty shocking in the day. Blake said when babies are circumcised, the foreskings were planted and grew up to become Hollywood executives.
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
Posts: 8657 | Location: Flown-over country | Registered: December 25, 2008
Blake was on The Tonight Show in the '70s. The question came up "What would you do if you knew that you had six months to live?" A female guest gave some stock answer.
When Robert is asked he says something to the effect of "There are enough bad people out there that require snuffage, I think I'd kill 'em".
The audience and Carson have a good laugh before Carson restates the question, asking "But seriously, Bob, what would you do?".
Yes, as Lynch pointed out, Blake didn't care what people thought of him and Blake's remarks on The Tonight Show are further evidence that he shot his wife. The pistol used was a wartime production P-38 which had been dropped into a trash can a short distance from the scene and- according to the police- had been sprayed down with WD-40. This would have obliterated any fingerprints.
O.J. Simpson murdered his wife and her friend because he was a jealous husband.
Robert Blake murdered his wife because she routinely did everything she could to ruin peoples lives.
Both of these acts are crimes, but as far as I'm concerned, there is a world of difference in them.
This thread makes me think of his appearances on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. Referring to a big man he’d say, “That big ‘jamoke’.” Producers, studio execs were, “The Suits.” And dat’s de name of dat tune.
_______________________________________________________ despite them
Posts: 13756 | Location: Wyoming | Registered: January 10, 2008
Originally posted by parabellum: David Lynch's assessment is correct.
I think Blake would have been a great Frank Booth.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
Posts: 17565 | Location: Texas | Registered: May 13, 2003