Robert Norman William Blake, Baron Blake was an English historian. He is best known for his 1966 biography of Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, and for The Conservative Party from Peel to Churchill, which grew out of his 1968 Ford lectures. He was created a life peer as Baron Blake, of Braydeston in the County of Norfolk.
Born at 8:30am EDT.
Father of Noah Blake.
Walked away from his career 1986-1993.
Daughter, Rose Lenore Sophia Blake (with Bonnie Lee Bakley ), was born June 2000.
(4 May 2001) Blakes wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley , was shot in the head and killed while sitting in her car waiting for her husband outside of a restaurant.
He received accolades for his performance as a killer who goes to the gallows in 1967s In Cold Blood , and he won a 1975 Emmy for "Baretta" {Hell Never See Daylight } , but his career had been stalled for years.
More than a year after her death, he was arrested for the murder of his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley. He was acquitted on 16th March 2005. Eight months later, however, a jury in a civil suit brought on behalf of her children found Blake liable for the murder and ordered him to pay over $30 million in damages.
Almost had the role of Jim Rockford on "The Rockford Files" , but Stephen J. Cannell thought that, since Rockford didnt like to fight, the diminutive Blake would have seemed too cowardly in the role.
To prepare for the role of Hannibal Lecter, Anthony Hopkins had watched Blakes performance in In Cold Blood several times (Hopkins said this having visited Blake, whom he didnt know personally, in prison after Blake was accused of murdering his wife).
Passed on Ratso Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy , and lost out on a role in The Godfather (presumably the role of Michael or Sonny). He also turned down the role of Angel in The Wild Bunch .
Appears in the film Lost Highway , about a man who murders his wife. It was inspired, according to David Lynch , by the O.J. Simpson case. Blake later became the centre of another high-profile wife-killing case in real life.
Although he is of Italian descent, for many years he specialised in playing either Latino characters or Native Americans.
Brother of Joan Blake and James Gubitosi.
Was the producers first choice for the role of Little Joe Cartwright on "Bonanza" .
In 2013 on "The Piers Morgan Show" to promote his autobiography, Blake related that when he was playing John Garfield as a boy in "Humoresque," there was a scene he could not get right. Garfield cleared the set and directed Blake himself. After the scene was finished, Garfield told the nine-year-old, "Robert, remember this for the rest of your life. Your life is a rehearsal. Your performance is real.".
(March 2005) Was acquitted on the charge of killing his wife.
(18 April 2002) Arrested and charged with the murder of his second wife.
During the production of one of Robert Blakes earliest films, one of the child actors froze in front of the camera. The director called for someone to replace the young actor, and Blake jumped up and yelled, "Ill do it." When asked who he was, Blake replied, "Im Mickey Gubitosi, and I can do anything!".
Learned how to drive a 13-gear 30-ton semi-trailer diesel truck for the comedy-drama film Coast to Coast .
During the production of one of Robert Blakes earliest films, one of the child actors froze in front of the camera. The director called for someone to replace the young actor,and Blake jumped up and yelled, "Ill do it." He was asked who he was and Blake replied, "Im Mickey Gubitosi, and I can do anything!".
Every time you think you got it made, old Mother Nature kicks you in the,scrotum.
