‘Baretta’ actor Robert Blake dies after wife’s murder ruins career 10.03.2023, 10:40

The artist died at his home in Los Angeles, California, surrounded by loved ones. Information about the death was confirmed by relatives, who said that he had suffered from heart disease in recent years. Those around Robert reported that, despite various difficulties, he lived a long life full of bright events. Blake’s memorial service will be held privately with family members present. His fans were asked to donate to charity in lieu of flowers.

Robert worked in Hollywood for over six decades and starred in classic films such as Treasure of the Sierra Madre with Humphrey Bogart, In Cold Blood with John Forsyth, Lost Highway with David Lynch. Robert also starred in a number of studio westerns under the stage name Bobby Blake. Viewers will remember him as New York undercover detective Tony Baretta from The Baretta Show, which ran for four seasons on ABC in the mid-1970s.

Robert was born in New Jersey. His birth certificate lists him as the son of James Goubitosi, but he later learns that his biological father was actually James’ brother, his uncle Tony, who had an affair with his mother. According to the artist, he was sometimes beaten and locked in a closet in his childhood. The boy’s artistic abilities began to appear at the age of two, already then he began to sing with his family. Later, Blake formed a band with his half-brother and sister, performing on busy streets.

When the boys were four years old, he found himself working as an extra at MGM studios. As a result, the director noticed him and took him to the film “Our gangs”. The artist admitted that he was bullied by his peers at school, he drank a lot and took drugs in his youth due to childhood injuries. He developed a reputation in Hollywood for being difficult to work with and constantly demanding script changes. On the set of Baretta, the artist argued with the producers about the choice of actors, sets and even props.

Robert’s career took a turn for the worse in the early 2000s when he was charged with the murder of his wife of 44 years, Bonnie Lee Buckley, as well as incitement to murder and conspiracy. On May 4, 2001, the two had dinner together at a Studio City restaurant, after which Buckley got into her car, where she was shot in the head.

Blake claimed he walked his wife to the car, but returned to the restaurant to retrieve the gun he accidentally left there. According to his version, upon his return he found his wife injured in the car.

The murder weapon was found in a nearby dumpster. A year later, the artist was arrested. He spent 11 months in prison and spent millions on lawyers and private investigators.

During the highly publicized three-month trial, details of their marriage came to light. According to the Daily Mail, Bonnie turned out to be a fraud with at least a dozen different aliases and 10 ex-husbands.

Prosecutors alleged that she lured Blake into a loveless marriage by impregnating him. However, a jury found him not guilty of inciting a former stuntman he worked with on Baretta to kill Buckley. On March 16, 2005, the actor was acquitted, but had to pay Bonnie’s relative 15 million, after which he declared bankruptcy.

In his memoir The Life of a Scoundrel, Robert denied involvement in his wife’s murder. In the last years of his life, he lived quietly in his home in Los Angeles, listening to jazz music, playing the guitar, reading poetry and watching classic movies. Say goodbye to the actor in private.