**Robert Blake** (born Michael Gubitosi, 1933-2023) began his career as a child actor, appearing in numerous productions including the celebrated *Our Gang* series.

He then established himself as a dramatic actor, specializing in intense and often tormented roles. His most celebrated and acclaimed role was that of Perry Smith in *In Cold Blood* (1967), where his raw and authentic portrayal of a killer earned him critical acclaim.

He continued to explore complex, marginalized characters, such as the solitary police officer in *Electra Glide in Blue* (1973), a film that solidified his image as an actor capable of profound vulnerability and resilience. Although his fame was also solidified by the television series *Baretta*, Blake remained an iconic face of American cinema for his ability to portray complex anti-heroes and outsider figures. His career concluded abruptly due to subsequent personal legal troubles.