Los Angeles — Actor Robert Blake, whose career stretched from child actor to Emmy-winning role as the cockatoo-owning undercover cop in the popular 1970s TV series “Baretta,” died of heart disease at his home here March 9. He was 89.
Blake was perhaps best known for his trial following the 2001 murder of his wife, of which he was acquitted.
And there’s an MST3K connection to the trial. Gary McLarty and Ronald (Duffy) Hambleton, both of whom had small roles in the movie in episode 512- MITCHELL, testified against Blake at the trial. McLarty played one of Mistretta’s henchmen and Hambleton played mob boss Edmondo Bocca, who gets dropped by Mitchell just short of the green. Both testified that Blake explicitly discussed killing his wife. But, unfortunately for the prosecution, both of these guys had somewhat checkered pasts. Blake’s defense team successfully undermined the credibility of both witnesses, introducing evidence of mental illness, drug addiction, etc. In the end, their testimony may have actually helped Blake get off.
MSTies may recall that he was mentioned in host segments in episodes 304- GAMERA VS. BARUGON and 305- STRANDED IN SPACE.
) to help our users cope with "trolls" and other commenters whom they find annoying. Go to our
“Baretta” was also mentioned in a host in Episode 324- MASTER NINJA II.
I believe the movie ‘IN COLD BLOOD’ was mentioned in the episode ‘RED ZONE CUBA’.
He was one of the last surviving Our Gang/Little Rascals members. Now the last survivor is Sidney “Woimy” Kilbrick.
Whatever we have to say about the trial, Blake was an interesting actor, and he always kept us entertained. RIP.