Amanda Blake spent nineteen years defining classic television as Miss Kitty Russell on the CBS western Gunsmoke. While millions of viewers tuned in weekly to watch her anchor the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, her real-life story featured an entirely different kind of drama. Off-screen, the iconic actress married five times, navigating a complex series of relationships, high-profile divorces, and personal trials that largely stayed out of the daily headlines of mid-century Hollywood.
Understanding her personal history requires looking past the fictional romance with Marshal Matt Dillon. Her five marriages spanned directors, businessmen, and politicians, each chapter reflecting a different phase of her evolution from a contract movie star to a pioneering animal activist.
The Five Marriages of Amanda Blake
Between 1952 and 1984, Blake walked down the aisle five times. While her professional life soared to historic heights, her personal relationships frequently faced turbulence, resulting in short-lived unions and long-term commitments alike.
Jack Shea (1952–1953)
Blake's first marriage occurred just as her film career was beginning to take root at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. She married Jack Shea in 1952, but the union lasted barely a year before ending in divorce in 1953. Little public documentation surrounds this early relationship, as Blake was still a relatively unknown starlet building her resume in minor film roles.
Don Whitman (1954–1956)
In August 1954, Blake married her second husband, Don Whitman. This marriage coincided with her transition into television and her breakout casting in major projects, including a role in A Star Is Born. The marriage ended in divorce in 1956, right as she began settling into the routine of filming Gunsmoke. Following this split, Blake frequently noted that the show's saloon set felt like a true home during difficult personal transitions.
Jason Seymour Day Jr. (1964–1967)
After remaining single through the peak years of her television fame, Blake married Jason Seymour Day Jr. in August 1964. This marriage lasted nearly three years before concluding in a divorce finalized in June 1967. Details regarding Day's profession and background remained largely private, reflecting Blake's growing preference to keep her personal life insulated from the intense television press of the 1960s.
Frank Gilbert (1967–1982)
Just three days after her divorce from Day, Blake married Frank Gilbert in June 1967. This was by far her longest marriage, lasting fifteen years.
- The Cheetah Breeding Program: During their marriage, Blake and Gilbert transitioned away from Hollywood pressures and established an animal compound in Phoenix. They ran one of the first successful captive breeding programs for cheetahs, ultimately raising seven generations of the big cats.
- Philanthropic Impact: Gilbert supported her extensive animal welfare work before the couple divorced amicably in 1982.
Mark Edward Spaeth (1984–1985)
Blake's final marriage was to Mark Edward Spaeth, an Austin, Texas city councilman, in 1984. The marriage was short-lived; Spaeth fell gravely ill and passed away from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1985. Blake herself faced severe health battles during this period, including a successful fight against oral cancer that earned her the American Cancer Society's Courage Award, presented by President Ronald Reagan. Blake passed away in August 1989 due to complications from liver failure.
Life Beyond the Marriages
While her relationship history often draws curiosity, framing Blake's life solely through her spouses overlooks her substantial cultural impact. Beyond her work on television, she was inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Hall of Great Western Performers in 1968, standing alongside Hollywood's greatest western icons. Furthermore, her dedication to animal rights helped establish organizations like the Arizona Animal Welfare League, cementing a legacy that extended far beyond the soundstages of Hollywood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Amanda Blake have any children?
No, Blake never had children from any of her five marriages. Instead, she directed her maternal instincts and immense energy toward animal rescue, exotic wildlife conservation, and founding animal shelters.
Why did Amanda Blake leave Gunsmoke?
After playing Miss Kitty for nineteen seasons, Blake chose to leave the show in 1974 because she felt exhausted by the grueling weekly production schedule and wanted to pursue other creative projects, travel, and focus on her animal conservation work.
How many times was Amanda Blake married?
She was married five times to five different men: Jack Shea, Don Whitman, Jason Seymour Day Jr., Frank Gilbert, and Mark Edward Spaeth. Her longest marriage was to Frank Gilbert.
What was Amanda Blake's biggest passion outside of acting?
Animal welfare was her primary focus. Alongside her fourth husband, Frank Gilbert, she pioneered captive cheetah breeding and spent millions of dollars supporting wildlife sanctuaries, anti-cruelty campaigns, and no-kill shelters.
