It was the end of the trail. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". But he added, ''That wasn't the reason that she died.'' Who was the mother of Matt Dillons daughter Beth? RIP Amanda your legacy lives on in your work. She told the Archive that Amanda was scared to death., Bette Davis had a widely expansive career acting. Sadly, she died in August 1989 of liver failure due to viral hepatitis. "Little House on the Prairie" and Knight Rider. Amanda Blake Birthday Cake, A Miss Kitty Gunsmoke Marathon, Saturday at 12PM ET. As big as he was, Andy Devine was a good rider. US actress, in a publicity portrait issued fo the US television series, 'Gunsmoke', USA, circa 1960. How many different bartenders did they have on Gunsmoke? films. Spaeth was, however, widely known to have been a homosexual. Loveday: Sonny, you just missed the devil's supper by this much. See also. Only James Arness and Milburn Stone remained on the show for its entire 20-season run. Belinda" (1982); "Thanksgiving Day" (1990) and "River According to David R. Greenlands book,The Gunsmoke Chronicles: A New History of Televisions Greatest Western, Blake initially told the press that she left because of her long commute. She was born in New York City and attended Pomona College before she started acting. It was the end of the trail. She was primarily a television actress but had done some (1989) as Mavis Talmadge and "Suture" (1993) as Mrs. Lucerne. She tells John Boy that they can no longer be married, and with that, John Boy takes the job in London. Gunsmoke connected so much with audiences because of the chemistry that developed between both the actors and the characters that they played. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. "After about the first five years, Jim got very protective about Matt Dillon's image. He was married to his second wife, Minnie Thompson, up until his death, and they had one child together. It would also spell out the final time either of them would reclaim their roles. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty on the show, said it became a natural part of Arness's life to defend Matt Dillon. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). (1978) as Cafe Owner; "Rocky II" (1979) as Adrian's Nurse; "The When Amanda Blake signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the late 1940s, the studio believed she would be a star. Add an answer. Did Elizabeth and Drew get married on The Waltons? Best remembered by the public for his role as Festus Haggen on Gunsmoke (1955). She received surgery and lived for about a decade after her cancer. Gunsmoke: How Much Did James Arness Make for Playing Marshal Matt Dillon. Blake finally left Gunsmoke after a staggering 19 seasons. , Accommodations and food service industry: 11.8%, Art, entertainment, and recreational fields: 11.5%. Blake These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. One of the most beautiful and popular women in westerns is Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty in the Gunsmoke franchise. She was a staple on the show since the television adaptation of the radio Western story first started. Blake's character was Miss Kathleen "Kitty" Russell, the proprietor of a saloon in Dodge City, the setting for "Gunsmoke.". Miss Kitty was a fan-favorite on Gunsmoke, as the owner of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. Amanda Blake entered into millions of homes as Miss Kitty on "Gunsmoke" for 19 seasons. Did William Shatner ever guest star on Gunsmoke? Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge. Amanda Blake (February 20, 1929 - August 16, 1989) After 19 years of doing that commute, she decided enough was enough. She lived in Phoenix, making her commute rather unbearably long. Gouch; "General Hospital" (1979) a soap as Sister Agatha; "No google_color_text = "CCCCCC"; However, Blake. They wanted (motions between her and Arness)., CBS didnt always appreciate how Blake spoke about Miss Kitty, who had no issue with openly calling the character a tramp., There are lots of characters roaming around Dodge and one of them is you! While she wasnt portraying the fabulous Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke, Amanda Blake was instead helping real-life animals. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Actress Amanda Blake, who as Miss Kitty reigned for 19 years as the queen of Dodge City's Long Branch Saloon in the TV series Gunsmoke, died after a long battle with cancer. . She continued to stay in touch with some of her co-stars, even after she quit the show. But, because of the relationship between Matt and Kitty, we got a lot of letters early in the series saying that they didnt want Kitty to be available to everybody., So, they had to do a turnaround there and make her an entrepreneur, Blake recalled. Blake sure earned a lot of clams working on the show. Despite getting the bypass surgery in 1971 (the time when he had to exit Gunsmoke for a bit), nine years later in 1980, he died of a heart attack at age 75. However, the truth about why she leftGunsmokedidnt come out until years later. He continued to play his iconic character for another four installments until the ratings finally started to slip. She loved big cats in particular and owned cheetahs and lions. Milburn Stone, Ken Curtis, Amanda Blake, and James Arness Curtis remains best known for his role as Festus Haggen, the scruffy, cantankerous, and illiterate deputy in Gunsmoke. BeforeGunsmoke, Blake made the move to be a major Hollywood star. However, it took longtime fans some time to adjust to seeing faces associated with those names and new voices. Chester was now suddenly gone at the beginning of the 11th season, which was weird because they never explained in the show what happened to or why Chester had in fact left (Weaver had left to pursue other acting opportunities such as McCloud ), he was then replaced over time by Festus Haggen. Arness earned $1,200 an episode at first, but after the show won Emmys and topped the ratings, he renegotiated for $20,000 an episode and said, flat-out, No press! (TV Guide dubbed him the recluse on horseback.). He always turned in performances that were enjoyable to behold. In her personal life, she was married briefly to Don Whitman in the 50s. Seeing as Blake was never sexually promiscuous nor used drugs, the revelation begged the question of where she would have contracted the virus. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. saloon owner of the Long Branch (replacing Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty Russell); So why did Amanda Blake leave Gunsmoke? Amanda was a smoker for many years and eventually had oral cancer. She only starred in the role for a total of five episodes across the season. "I Dream of Jeannie"; "Taxi"; "Matlock"; "Night Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Gunsmoke actor Amanda Blake felt a general comfort when playing Miss Kitty Russell. Gunsmoke: Amanda Blake Was Scared to Work With This Famous Guest Star. Before Gunsmoke, she was mainly a movie star. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Only three months after her death, a spokeswoman for Mercy General Hospital, Jerri Ewen, came forward to put the facts straight, reporting that she had indicated Blake's death as cancer at the request of close friends to the diseased. "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "The Brady Bunch"; "Bonanza"; Matt Dillon? Amanda Blake played Miss Kitty on 'Gunsmoke' for 19 years. Did Rose ever marry Stanley on The Waltons? She played the role of Miss Kitty during the nearly 20 years Show. The sassy owner of Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City was played by actress Amanda Blake, a woman who would forever make her mark not only in. 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Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. Blake was able to return back to Dodge City alongside Arness one last time in the 1987 made-for-TV movie,Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge. Scarlet Angel. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. She was a familiar face for 30 years on shows like GUNSMOKE.. google_ad_channel =""; They tied the knot in real life in nuptials officiated by Walton dad Ralph Waite, a minister in real life. CBS came to the decision to stop making these made-for-TV movies when the ratings started to slip, officially signaling the end of the series for good. Gunsmoke actor Amanda Blake played Miss Kitty Russell for many years. Blake, who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day, had, back in 1977, had surgery to treat oral cancer. What kind of horse did Ben Cartwright ride? Russell and "Little Dracula" (1991) as the voice of Hannah the Why did Amanda Blake leave Gunsmoke? Her TV movies include: "Johnny She has also guest starred on such series as: "Batman"; Matt's life is changed when his gun arm is seriously wounded.