Robert Blake (actor)

Robert Blake (born September 18 1933) is an American actor most famous for starring in the U.S. television series Baretta.

Personal

He and actress Sondra Kerr were married in 1964 and divorced in 1983. They had two children, actor Noah Blake (born 1965) and Delinah Blake (born 1967).

Related Topics:
Sondra Kerr - 1964 - 1983 - Noah Blake - 1965 - 1967

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bonnie Lee Bakley

In 1999, Blake met Bonnie Lee Bakley, reportedly a woman with a very shady past. She was seeing Christian Brando, son of Marlon Brando, before becoming acquainted with Blake. She then had a baby, Rose Lenore Sophia (born June 2, 2000). Blake and Bakley married November 19, 2000 after DNA tests proved that he was in fact the biological father of Rose. It was his second marriage, her ninth.

Related Topics:
1999 - Christian Brando - Marlon Brando - June 2 - 2000 - November 19 - DNA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although they were married, it was unconventional. Bakley lived in a small guest house beside her husband's house in the Studio City area of the San Fernando Valley.

Related Topics:
Studio City - San Fernando Valley

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On May 4, 2001, Blake took Bakley to an Italian dinner at Vitello's Restaurant on Tujunga Boulevard in Studio City. Afterward, Bakley was murdered by a gunshot to the head while sitting in the car, which was parked on a side street around the corner from the restaurant. Blake told the police that he had gone back to the restaurant to get a gun he left at the table and was there when the shooting occurred.

Related Topics:
May 4 - 2001

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Arrest and trial for murder

He was arrested on April 18, 2002, and charged in connection with the murder of his wife. His longtime bodyguard, Earle Caldwell, was also arrested and charged with conspiracy in connection with the murder.

Related Topics:
April 18 - 2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On April 22, Blake was charged with one count of murder with special circumstances, an offense eligible for the death penalty. He was also charged with two counts of solicitation of murder and one count of murder conspiracy. Blake pled not guilty to all charges. Caldwell was charged with a single count of murder conspiracy and also pled not guilty.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On April 25, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office announced they would not seek the death penalty against Blake should he be convicted, but prosecutors would seek a sentence of life in prison without parole.

Related Topics:
April 25 - District Attorney

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After Blake posted a $1 million bail, Caldwell was released on April 27. But a judge denied bail for Blake on May 1. On March 13, 2003, after almost a year in jail, Blake was granted bail, which was set at $1.5 million, and allowed to go free to await trial.

Related Topics:
April 27 - May 1 - March 13 - 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Acquittal

On March 16, 2005, Blake was found not guilty of the murder of Bonnie Lee Bakley, and of one of the two counts of soliciting a former stuntman to murder her. The other count of solicitation was dropped after it was revealed that the jury was deadlocked 11-1 in favor of an acquittal. Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley, commenting on this ruling, called Blake a "miserable human being" and the jurors "incredibly stupid." Blake's defense team and members of the jury responded that the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

Related Topics:
March 16 - 2005 - District Attorney - Steve Cooley

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~