Why did Amanda Blake leave Gunsmoke after 19 seasons as Miss Kitty?
From 1955 to 1974, Amanda Blake portrayed the saloon-keeper Miss Kitty Russell on Gunsmoke. She shocked fans after announcing her departure from the drama series, citing fatigue from commuting from Arizona to California for filming. According to the Los Angeles Times, Blake said:
I was tired, and it was time to leave. It was the end of the trail for me. Unfortunately, the show only lasted a year after I left.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Amanda Blake left Gunsmoke due to several other factors, including her declining health.
- Her final appearance was in Season 19's The Disciple episode in 1974.
- Actress Frances Mary Ryan portrayed Miss Kitty's replacement, Miss Hannah.
- Amanda Blake starred in the 1987 film Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge, which was based on Gunsmoke.
Amanda Blake's profile summary
| Birth name | Beverly Louise Neill |
| Date of birth | 20 February 1929 |
| Date of death | 16 August 1989 |
| Age at death | 60 years old |
| Birthplace | Buffalo, New York, USA |
| Place of death | Sacramento, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Marital status | Widowed |
| Late husband | Mark Spaeth |
| Profession | Actress |
| Years active | 1950-1989 |
| Net worth | $500,000 |
Amanda Blake fought tooth and nail to bag the role of Miss Kitty
American actress Polly Bond was initially cast to play Miss Kitty. However, she declined the role, fearing that earning more than her husband, actor Tommy Bond, would strain their marriage.
However, unlike Polly, Amanda wanted the role so badly that she refused to leave the casting office until the producers gave her a shot. After bagging the role, Miss Kitty became a fan favourite, and Blake even wanted to be more like her in real life.
Source: Getty Images
Blake played Miss Kitty for over a decade
Miss Kitty was the owner of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. Fans loved watching the on-screen chemistry between her and Marshal Matt Dillon.
Having starred in the series for 19 years, Amanda saw stars like Roger Ewing and Burt Reynolds come and go. Only Milburn Stone and James Arness remained on the show for its 20-season run. Meanwhile, Dennis Weaver left the CBS show after nine seasons.
Why did Amanda Blake leave Gunsmoke?
After Blake announced her departure from the show, there was a lot of speculation as to why she had decided to walk away. Here are some of the reported reasons for her exit:
Long commute and exhaustion: According to the Chicago Tribune, Amanda had grown weary of travelling from her Phoenix home to the Gunsmoke set in Hollywood.
Health concerns: Blake reportedly struggled with her declining health, which later became known to be related to a developing throat cancer.
The death of Glenn Strange: When Amanda's friend and co-star Glenn passed away due to lung cancer in 1973, Amanda reportedly struggled to cope with grief.
Source: Getty Images
Conflict with producer John Mantley: Blake and John purportedly disagreed due to her character's direction. According to Showbiz Cheat Sheet, he once revealed:
She was always complaining about something.
Strategic exit: To avoid negative publicity, Amanda and the producers agreed to her leaving on her own terms. However, David Greenland details in his book The Gunsmoke Chronicles: A New History of Television's Greatest Western that, "Her departure was a classic case of the employee who quit before being fired."
How was Miss Kitty written out of Gunsmoke?
When Gunsmoke returned for its 20th season, viewers were informed that Miss Kitty had relocated from Dodge City to New Orleans.
From then on, Amanda was not mentioned again, and Fran Ryan was introduced. However, the latter only starred in the series for five episodes. Her last performance was on episode 23, Manolo, in 1975.
Amanda Blake returned for Gunsmoke's sequel, Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge
A year after Amanda exited Gunsmoke, CBS decided not to renew the show for a 21st season. This was done without any public announcement to the fans or prior notice to the producers and cast members.
Source: Getty Images
The series just ended abruptly. Miss Kitty returned to Dodge City for one last time in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge. Although CBS made four other sequels, she only agreed to star in one.
FAQs
Blake made her acting debut in 1950, starring in Duchess of Idaho and Stars in My Crown. Below are some frequently asked questions about her:
Who were Amanda Blake's parents?
Amanda was the only child of banker Jesse and his wife, Louise Neill. She briefly attended Pomona College. Before becoming an actress, Blake was a telephone operator.
Did Amanda Blake and James Arness get along?
The pair had a close relationship on and off the screen. Arness considered Blake a "great friend" and regularly praised her casting.
Who was Amanda Blake's spouse?
Amanda was married five times. Her ex-husbands included Jack Shea, Don Whitman, Jason Day and Frank Gilbert. Blake was married to Mark Spaeth for about a year before his passing in 1985.
Source: Getty Images
What was Amanda Blake's cause of death?
A heavy cigarette smoker, Amanda was diagnosed with oral cancer in 1977. However, she was successfully treated with surgery. Blake passed away due to AIDS-related hepatitis in 1989.
How rich was Amanda Blake?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Amanda's estimated net worth was $500,000 at the time of her death. She had amassed this wealth from her illustrious acting career.
Conclusion
The late Amanda Blake gained notoriety for her role as the red-haired saloon proprietress Miss Kitty in Gunsmoke. She left the show after 19 years, reportedly due to the hustle of commuting from Arizona to California.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
