Rites for Amanda Blake of ‘Gunsmoke’ Planned

A memorial service for Amanda Blake, doyenne of the Longbranch Saloon on television’s “Gunsmoke” for 19 years, will be conducted next week in Sacramento.

The 60-year-old actress, best known to viewers as the titian-haired Miss Kitty, died at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday of mouth and throat cancer in Sacramento’s Mercy General Hospital.

Hospital spokeswoman Jerri Ewen said the memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Capital Christian Center.

The actress entered the hospital three weeks ago because of “ongoing deterioration,” according to her friend, “Gunsmoke” animal trainer Pat Derby, who was with her when she died. Blake, an animal rights crusader, had moved to Derby’s ranch in Galt, Calif., two years ago.

“She was frail; not in great health. But she had a will of iron,” Derby said. “She was doing all the things she wanted to do. She didn’t let her health get her down.”

Derby said Blake’s dog, Butterfly, which she described as “a little mutt” that Blake had rescued from a pound, was also with the actress at the time of her death.

Blake had smoked two packs of cigarettes a day until cancer first struck in 1977 in the form of a tumor under her tongue.

After recovery from surgery and reconstruction of her mouth, she taught herself to talk again and became a speaker for the American Cancer Society. In 1984, the actress earned the organization’s annual Courage Award, which was presented in the Oval Office by President Ronald Reagan.

James Arness, who portrayed Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular and long-running “Gunsmoke” on CBS, said the death of his leading lady was sad for him and a generation of fans.

“Amanda was one of the most beautiful and gracious ladies ever on the television screen,” he said.

“She had a loving heart and wonderful spirit,” added Dennis Weaver, who portrayed Dillon’s gimpy-legged sidekick, Chester, for nine years. “She was an extremely caring person in the way she pursued making a better place for animals that need help. She expressed an infinite love in that manner. I am fortunate to have worked with her and known her as a real friend.”

Burt Reynolds, “Gunsmoke’s” blacksmith Quint Asper, said from his Florida home: “She was a great friend and I’ll miss her. Amanda was a gallant lady with a terrific sense of humor and the bawdiest laugh I ever heard. She was a truly beautiful woman.”

Born Beverly Neill in Buffalo, N.Y., on Feb. 20, 1929, Blake made her stage debut at age 10 in a school pageant in her hometown.

She signed a contract with MGM while a teen-ager, first performing in the 1950 film, “Stars in My Crown.” Her other film credits included “Duchess of Idaho,” “Lili,” “Sabre Jet,” “A Star Is Born,” “About Mrs. Leslie” and “High Society.”

Her television credits in the early 1950s included “Exposure,” “General Electric Theater,” “Four Star Playhouse” and “Cavalcade of America.”

But her greatest fame came as Kitty Russell, the kind-hearted and worldly wise saloon keeper with a crusty exterior in “Gunsmoke’s” Dodge City of the late 1800s. Her character had a little-disguised romantic interest in Marshal Dillon.

Blake was at CBS when she heard that the radio version of “Gunsmoke” was to go on television and later told an interviewer: “I knew I had to have the part of Kitty, so I hounded the producer until I got it.”

She left the show in 1974, after 19 years, telling The Times later: “I was tired and it was time to go. It was the end of the trail. The show only lasted one more year. . . .”

After “Gunsmoke,” Blake’s main television appearances were mostly guest spots on game shows, movies of the week and series. She also starred in “Gunsmoke--Return to Dodge,” a movie-of-the-week reprise of the Western series.

Blake was married five times. Her last marriage, to Austin, Tex., city councilman and land developer Mark Spaeth, ended in divorce in 1985.

Friends ask that donations be sent to the Amanda Blake Memorial Fund at Farmer’s and Merchant’s Bank in Galt. The fund will benefit the Performing Animals Welfare Society (PAWS).

A version of this story appeared in late editions of Thursday’s Times.