He died at 89 years old. Robert Blake, born Michael James Gubitosi, Italian origins but US passport, entered the history of cinema above all for his disturbing interpretation of the mysterious man (Mystery Man) in Strade Perdute (Lost Highway), a 1997 film by David Lynch. However, Robert Blake is also remembered for his interpretation of detective Tony Baretta in the television series of the same name which aired between 1975 and 1978. That interpretation earned him an Emmy Award in the 1975 and a Golden Globe in 1976. To give the news of the disappearance to the media – the first to report the news are the editors of CNN – is the granddaughter of the actor.
Born on September 18, 1933, Blake began his career at a very young age. The first appearances in Hollywood feature films date back to 1942, when he was just 9 years old. But as early as 1939 (when he was still 6 years old and using his first name) he began to appear in the shorts of Le Giovani Scoundrels produced by Metro Goldwyn Meyers. Blake/Gubitosi assumes the role of Porky. Strade Perdute is the last feature film in which he participates and which concludes a career that lasted over 60 years, one of the longest ever.
In 2002 he was suspected and then accused of killing his then wife Bonnie Lee Bakley. The murder took place in a Los Angeles parking lot the year before. Prosecutors initially questioned Blake only as a witness. With the continuation of the investigation and the discovery of some background relating to the private life of him and her, the investigators began to have suspicions about Blake who was brought to court on charges of Uxoricide in April 2002.
The actor was later acquitted in 2005 when his lawyers were able to demonstrate how one of the main witnesses for the prosecution had come to an agreement to acquit his record in exchange for precisely a testimony in favor of Blake.
Fonte: CNN
