Trivia

Appears in the film Lost Highway (1997), 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.

To prepare for the role of Hannibal Lecter, Anthony Hopkins had watched Blake's performance in In Cold Blood (1967) several times (Hopkins said this having visited Blake, who he didn't know personally, in prison after Blake was accused of murdering his wife).

Almost had the role of Jim Rockford on The Rockford Files (1974), but Stephen J. Cannell thought that, since Rockford didn't like to fight, the diminutive Blake would have seemed too cowardly in the role.

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.

Although he is of Italian descent, for many years he specialised in playing either Latino characters or Native Americans.

Was the producers' first choice for the role of Little Joe Cartwright on Bonanza (1959).

During the production of one of Robert Blake's 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, "I'll do it." When asked who he was, Blake replied, "I'm Mickey Gubitosi, and I can do anything!".

Blake's wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, was shot in the head and killed while sitting in her car waiting for her husband outside of a restaurant. (May 4, 2001)

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.".

Learned how to drive a 13-gear 30-ton semi-trailer diesel truck for the comedy-drama film Coast to Coast (1980).

Was the first actor to utter the expletive "bulls--t" in a major motion picture when he did so in "In Cold Blood".

Passed on Ratso Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy (1969), and lost out on a role in The Godfather (1972) (presumably the role of Michael or Sonny). He also turned down the role of Angel in The Wild Bunch (1969).

He received accolades for his performance as a killer who goes to the gallows in 1967's In Cold Blood (1967), and he won a 1975 Emmy for He'll Never See Daylight (1975).

Was one of the "old timers" that Quentin Tarantino dedicated Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: A Novel to.

Walked away from his career 1986-1993.

In September 2019, Blake started a YouTube channel titled "Robert Blake: I ain't dead yet, so stay tuned," on which he discussed his life and career.

With the death of Robert Blake on March 9, 2023, Margaret Kerry and Sidney Kibrick are the last surviving cast members of the "Our Gang" comedy series.

On July 16, 2012, Blake was interviewed on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight. When asked about the night of Bakley's murder, Blake became defensive and angry, stating he resented Morgan's questioning and felt he was being interrogated. Morgan responded he was only asking questions that he felt people were eager to have answered.

Quentin Tarantino's novel Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, based on his film of the same name, is dedicated to Blake. Notably, Blake's later life dealing with his wife's murder mirrors Brad Pitt's character Cliff Booth who is also accused of murdering his wife.

In October 2019, Blake's daughter, Rose Lenore, opened up about her childhood and how the trial affected her. She discussed reuniting with her father, visiting her mother's grave and her own desire to get into acting. Regarding knowing the truth about her mother's murder and whether Blake did it she declined to know the details but is open to knowing the truth "If it's ever an option".

In January 2019, Blake was interviewed by 20/20. Initially, he seemed to decline the interview and instead delegated it to a friend, but then began to participate, discussing the murder and the behavior of the police officers who dealt with him, the culture of Hollywood and its reaction to the event, and his early life and difficulties with his parents.

Daughter, Rose Lenore Sophia Blake (with Bonnie Lee Bakley), was born June 2000.

In 2021, Blake opened up a website, "Robert Blake's Pushcart", where scripts, memorabilia, and books including his autobiography Tales of a Rascal are available to read and in the case of the latter can be ordered.

Robert Blake appeared as Red Ryder's sidekick Little Beaver in 22 westerns in the mid 1940s. This credit is not mentioned in his obituary in the NY Times.

Born at 8:30am EDT.

Is interred at the Saint Peter's Cemetery in West New Brighton, Long Island, New York.