Actress Amanda Blake, who died from AIDS-related hepatitis in 1989, was one tough cookie, just like her most famous character, Miss Kitty Russell on TV’s long-running Western, Gunsmoke. As the only female star of the beloved Western series, which originally ran on CBS from 1955 to 1975, Blake was a groundbreaking actress who portrayed one of TV’s first fiercely independent women. That is also how she was in her real life which was earmarked with a remarkable career.
A Closer Look
In 1968, Amanda Blake, a former telephone operator, was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
A few years later, in 1971 she joined with others in Phoenix, Arizona, to form the Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL; the oldest and largest “no-kill” animal shelter in Arizona).
In 1976 she hosted the 1st Annual “Sato” Mutt Show in response to all the purebred dog shows.
In 1989, Blake journeyed to Virginia City, Nevada for a special guest appearance at the renowned Miss Kitty’s Longbranch Saloon. She signed several hundred autographed photos in costume as Miss Kitty. At the time, Miss Kitty’s Longbranch Saloon was owned and operated by producer, director, and cinematographer Virgil E. Hammond III.
One of Her Only Flaws: She Smoked Too Much
Amanda Blake smoked 2–3 packs of cigarettes per day until she was diagnosed with oral cancer in 1980.
After enduring oral cancer surgery in 1984, the American Cancer Society awarded her with its Courage Award which was presented to her in Washington, DC by President Reagan.
In 1985 Blake received the American Cancer Society’s Sword of Hope award.
Her Final Performance
In her final screen appearance, Amanda Blake played another strong-willed character like Miss Kitty: a grandmother who sought custody of her grandchildren. The program was a daytime TV series based on real-life court cases.
Her Final Days
Amanda Blake’s death certificate listed the immediate cause of her demise as cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver failure and cytomegalovirus (CMV) hepatitis. CMV hepatitis is AIDS-related, according to Sacramento, CAQ internist Dr. Lou Nishimura.
Blake was believed to have contracted the AIDS virus from her last husband, Mark Spaeth, a member of the city council of Austin, Texas. The openly bisexual Spaeth (1939–1985) also died of complications of the disease.
Through it all, Amanda Blake never complained and retained an inner-strength and faced her life and death challenges with courageos fervor.
This article originally appeared on Newsbreak.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
More from MediaFeed:
5 Hidden Meditation Retreats Experts Swear Will Melt Your Stress Away
Featured Image Credit: IMDb.