Trivia

Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1968.

Smoked 2-3 packs of cigarettes a day until being diagnosed with oral cancer in 1980.

In 1971 she joined with others in Phoenix, Arizona, to form the Arizona Animal Welfare League. The AAWL is now the oldest and largest "no-kill" animal shelter in Arizona. In 1976 she hosted the 1st Annual "Sato" Mutt Show in response to all the purebred dog shows.

In 1989, she traveled to Virginia City, Nevada for a special guest appearance at the renowned Miss Kitty's Longbranch Saloon. She signed several hundred autographed pictures in costume as Kitty Russell. At the time, Miss Kitty's Longbranch Saloon was owned and operated by producer, director and cinematographer Virgil E. Hammond III.

After enduring oral cancer surgery in 1984, the American Cancer Society awarded her with its Courage Award which was presented to her in Washington, DC by President Reagan. In 1985, Blake received the American Cancer Society's Sword of Hope award.

Her death certificate listed the immediate cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver failure and cytomegalo virus (CMV) hepatitis. CMV hepatitis is AIDS-related, according to Sacramento (CA) internist Dr. Lou Nishimura. She was believed to have contracted the AIDS virus from her last husband, Mark Spaeth, a member of the city council of Austin, Texas. The openly bisexual Spaeth (1939-1985) also died of complications of the disease.

In 1961 she sold her residual rights to Gunsmoke (1955) for $100,000.

Before making it in show business, she worked as a telephone operator.

Held the record for being the actress who played the same character for the longest time (19 years) on television, until Mariska Hargitay surpassed her with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999).

Her second husband, Jason Day, was an Arizona cattleman.

Amanda raised cheetahs on a ranch she owned with her 3rd husband, producer Frank Gilbert. They would send the cheetahs to zoos. Amanda credits former Secretary of the Interior James Watt for spurring her interest in wildlife and conservationism.

Was the only female regular cast member during Gunsmoke (1955)'s long run.

Her years on Gunsmoke (1955) amounts to be almost a third of her life. She even lived long enough to return in the 1987 TV movie Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987).

Best remembered by the public for her role as 'Miss Kitty' Russell on Gunsmoke (1955).

The other animals on her ranch included 13 cheetahs, a lion, a leopard, a pair of raccoons, a pair of bobcats and a desert fox in shaded cages in the grounds while 6 dogs and 13 cats occupied parts of the house.

Shortly before her death, Amanda Blake portrayed a grandmother who was trying to gain custody of her grandchildren. The program was a daytime TV series based on actual court cases and had many known actors portraying the parties involved. Amanda Blake was easily recognizable, and her name was in the credits..

Was roommates with Jan Shepard, before she landed the role of "Miss Kitty" on Gunsmoke (1955).