What Was Amanda Blake's Net Worth?
Amanda Blake was an American actress with a net worth of $500,000 at the time of her death in 1989. She was best known for her role as Kitty on the television series "Gunsmoke," which she starred in from 1955 to 1974.
Amanda Blake appeared in several films, including "Stars In My Crown," "Duchess of Idaho," "Counterspy Meets Scotland Yard," "China Corsair," "Smuggler's Gold," "Sunny Side of the Street," "Cattle Town," "Lili," "Sabre Jet," "Miss Robin Crusoe," "About Mrs. Leslie," "A Star Is Born," "The Adventures of Hajji Baba," "The Glass Slipper," "High Society," and "The Boost." She also had guest roles in TV series like "The Red Skelton Show," "The Love Boat," "Hart to Hart," "The Edge of Night," and "Brothers." Blake was honored with a Golden Globe nomination and three Primetime Emmy nominations for her role in "Gunsmoke." She passed away on August 16, 1989, at the age of 60.
Early Life
Amanda Blake, born Beverly Louise Neill on February 20, 1929, in Buffalo, New York, was the daughter of Jesse and Louise Neill. Her father was a banker. After high school, she worked as a telephone operator and briefly attended Pomona College before deciding to pursue an acting career.
Career
In the late 1940s, Blake signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, appearing in films like the 1952 western "Cattle Town" and the 1954 "Miss Robin Crusoe." She also featured in "Scarlet Angel," "Cattle Town," "Lili," "Sabre Jet," "The Adventures of Hajji Baba," "The Glass Slipper," "High Society," and "Never Trust a Gambler," among others.
In 1955, Amanda was cast as saloon-keeper Miss Kitty in "Gunsmoke," a role she held for 19 years until 1974. The show won 15 Primetime Emmy awards and maintained a top-10 spot in Nielsen ratings during many of its seasons. Her role significantly boosted her celebrity status.
While occupied with "Gunsmoke," Blake only occasionally took on other acting projects. She guest-starred in the crime drama "State Trooper" in 1957 and was a regular on "The Red Skeleton Show." She also appeared on game shows like "Hollywood Squares," "Tattletales," and "Match Game." Blake made notable comedy appearances on the "Dean Martin Celebrity Roast."
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Post-Gunsmoke, Blake appeared in feature films like "The Boost," alongside James Woods and Sean Young, and the film "B.O.R.N."
Blake was recognized several times for her contributions to acting. In 1968, she was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, following Tom Mix and Gary Cooper.
After retiring from acting, Blake devoted her time to animal welfare. She and her husband Frank Gilbert ran an experimental breeding program for cheetahs, successfully raising seven generations. In 1971, she helped establish the Arizona Animal Welfare League, Arizona's oldest and largest "no-kill" animal shelter. In 1985, she contributed to the founding of the Performing Animal Welfare Society. The Amanda Blake Memorial Wildlife Refuge was opened in 1997 to provide sanctuary for African wildlife.
Personal Life and Death
Amanda Blake was married four times. Her marriages included Don Whitman (1954-1956), Jason Seymour Day, Jr. (1964-1967), Frank Gilbert (1967-1982), and Mark Edward Spaeth (1984-1985). She was a heavy smoker and had surgery for oral cancer in 1977. Blake was an active supporter of the American Cancer Society and won the society's Courage Award in 1984, presented by President Ronald Reagan.
Blake died of pneumonia brought on by AIDS on August 16, 1989, at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. Reports later revealed that she may have contracted AIDS from a former husband.
