Robert Blake’s Students

In 1987, in what would have been the height of Robert Blake’s dark hours, he called Granada Hills High School and asked to come speak to students about gangs, drugs and life.

When Blake first arrived, he spoke with some “at risk” students (those on the verge of dropping out or who have fewer academic advantages than others). In his effort to get down with the students, Blake tried to get a little too down. Much to his credit, Blake cleaned up his act for the drama class.

I shall never forget how eloquent he was there. A student asked why he went into acting, and Blake answered that you do acting “because you realize you can do nothing else”--and he said it as if his whole heart and being would not let him do anything else.

Charles Champlin’s article (“Robert Blake Turns His Life Around,” June 6) noted that Blake asked people why they did not save him from himself. Champlin had no way of knowing that in Blake’s own generosity and need to reach out he wanted to save some young people from themselves and offered to communicate this to them with no fanfare, no publicity, just quietly and earnestly.

ANNE L. FALOTICO, Principal

Granada Hills High School