Amanda Blake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amanda Blake
As Miss Kitty Russell in Gunsmoke (1966)
Born	Beverly Louise Neill (1929-02-21)February 21, 1929 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Died	August 16, 1989(1989-08-16) (aged 60) Sacramento, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1950–1989
Spouse(s)	Jack Shea ​ ​ (m. 1952; div. 1953)​ Don Whitman ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1956)​ Jason Day ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1967)​ Frank Gilbert ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1982)​ Mark Spaeth ​ ​ (m. 1984; his death 1985)​

Amanda Blake (born Beverly Louise Neill, February 21, 1929 – August 16, 1989) was an American actress. She is best known for playing Miss Kitty Russell, the red-haired owner of a saloon, on the TV show Gunsmoke. This was a very popular western television series. Amanda Blake also worked with her fourth husband, Frank Gilbert, to create one of the first successful programs for breeding cheetahs. They raised these amazing big cats in a special animal compound.

Early Life

Amanda Blake was born Beverly Louise Neill in Buffalo, New York. She was the only child of Jesse and Louise Neill. Her father worked as a banker. Before becoming an actress, Blake worked as a telephone operator. She also went to Pomona College for a short time.

One of Amanda's ancestors, Catherine Moore ″Kate" Barry, was a hero during the American Revolutionary War. She helped warn local patriots about an approaching British army. This warning gave them time to get ready for the Battle of Cowpens. This battle was a big American victory that helped lead to the British defeat at Yorktown.

Career

In Stars in My Crown (1950)

In the late 1940s, Amanda Blake started her acting career with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a big movie studio. She appeared in several Hollywood films. These included the 1952 western movie Cattle Town. She also had the main role in Miss Robin Crusoe (1954), which was based on the famous Robinson Crusoe adventure story. In 1954, she was in the movie A Star Is Born.

Amanda Blake became most famous for her role as Miss Kitty on the TV series Gunsmoke. She played this character for 19 years, from 1955 to 1974. Because of her busy schedule on Gunsmoke, Blake did not have much time for other movies. However, she did appear on many other television shows. She had a recurring comedy role on The Red Skelton Show. She also appeared as a celebrity guest on game shows like Hollywood Squares, Tattletales, and Match Game. She also made funny appearances on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast.

In 1968, Amanda Blake was honored by being inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers. This special hall is located at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. She was only the third performer to receive this honor.

Personal Life

Amanda Blake was married five times during her life. Her husbands included Don Whitman, Jason Seymour Day Jr., Frank Gilbert, and Mark Edward Spaeth. After her divorce from Don Whitman, she often found comfort on the "saloon set" of Gunsmoke. She felt like it was a second home to her.

Animal Welfare

After Gunsmoke ended, Amanda Blake mostly retired from acting. She spent more time at her home in Phoenix. She dedicated much of her time to caring for animals. She was known for bringing her pet lion, named Kemo, to the Gunsmoke set. Kemo lived in a special animal area at her home. There, she and her husband Frank Gilbert started a special program. They were among the first people to successfully breed cheetahs in captivity. They managed to raise seven generations of cheetahs!

In 1971, Blake helped create the Arizona Animal Welfare League. This organization is now the oldest and largest "no-kill" animal shelter in Arizona. In 1985, she also helped start the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). She gave a lot of her time and money to support their work. This included traveling to Africa to help animals there. In 1997, the Amanda Blake Memorial Wildlife Refuge opened in Herald, California. This refuge provides a safe home for African hoofed wildlife. Many of these animals were originally going to be sold at auctions or used on hunting ranches.

Later Years and Passing

Amanda Blake faced some health challenges later in her life. She had surgery for a serious illness in 1977. After this, she became a strong supporter of the American Cancer Society. She made many appearances across the country to help raise money for the organization. In 1984, she received the society's annual Courage Award. This award was given to her by then U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

Amanda Blake passed away on August 16, 1989, in Sacramento, California.

Filmography

See Also

In Spanish: Amanda Blake para niños