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September 18,
1933 |
Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi is born in Nutley, New Jersey, to parents James and Elizabeth Gubitosi, a song-and-dance team. He starts performing at age 2.
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1939 |
 The family relocates to Southern California and Gubitosi begins appearing in movies. He plays Mickey in more than 30 "Our Gang" comedy shorts, later known on television as "The Little Rascals."
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1942 |
The child actor changes his name to Bobby Blake.
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1944 |
Blake appears as Little Beaver in a string of low-budget Westerns.
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1948 |
Blake makes an uncredited appearance as a Mexican boy selling lottery tickets in the John Huston classic "The Treasure of Sierra Madre," starring Humphrey Bogart.
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1964 |
Blake marries actress Sondra Kerry. They have two children before divorcing -- a son, Noah Blake, born in 1965, and a daughter, Delinah Blake, in 1966.
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1967 |
 Blake wins praise in a breakthrough role as mass murderer Perry Smith in the screen version of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood."
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1969 |
Blake has the title role as an Indian fugitive in "Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here," which stars Robert Redford and Katharine Ross.
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1973 |
Blake plays a troubled police officer in the violent movie "Electra Glide in Blue."
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1975 |
 Blake achieves TV stardom in the series "Baretta" as a tough-talking detective with a pet cockatoo named Fred. He wins a 1974/75 Emmy for outstanding actor in a drama series.
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1978 |
"Baretta" is canceled after 3 1/2 seasons.
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1983 |
Blake portrays Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa in the syndicated TV miniseries "Blood Feud."
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1993 |
 The 60-year-old actor makes a minor comeback with an Emmy-nominated performance in the TV movie "Judgment Day: The John List Story."
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1999 |
Blake meets Bonny Lee Bakley at a Los Angeles nightclub.
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November 2000 |
Blake marries Bakley after DNA tests prove he fathered her daughter, Rose Lenore Sophia. Bakley lives in a small guest house next to her husband's home.
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May 4, 2001 |
Bakley, 44, is found fatally shot in a car a block from the Studio City, California, restaurant where she and Blake have just eaten. Blake tells police that he was inside the restaurant retrieving a gun when the shooting happened.
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April 18, 2002 |
 Blake is arrested in connection with the slaying. Blake's longtime bodyguard, Earle Caldwell, also is arrested.
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April 22, 2002 |
Blake is charged with one count of murder with special circumstances in the killing of Bakley, which is a death-penalty eligible charge. He also was charged two counts of solicitation of murder and one count of murder conspiracy. Blake pleads not guilty to all charges. A single count of murder conspiracy is filed against Caldwell, who also pleads not guilty.
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April 25, 2002 |
The Los Angeles District Attorney's office announces that it will not seek the death penalty against Blake if he is convicted. Prosecutors instead will seek a sentence of life in prison without parole.
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May 1, 2002 |
A judge denies bail for Blake. Caldwell was released on April 27 after Blake posted his $1 million bail.
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Melissa Etheridge
