Hollywood actor Robert Blake, best known for his role in the 1970s TV series Baretta, passed away at the age of 89 earlier today. Blake’s controversial life was marked by a highly publicized trial in which he was acquitted for the murder of his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley in 2005. His death was confirmed by his publicist, who stated that he died of natural causes.

Blake’s career spanned over six decades, during which he appeared in several films and TV shows, including In Cold Blood and Lost Highway. However, Blake’s legal troubles and scandalous personal life overshadowed much of his success in the entertainment industry.

Born in New Jersey in 1933, Blake began his career as a child actor, appearing in numerous films throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He later transitioned into adult roles, and in 1975, he landed the lead role on the hit TV series Baretta, which ran for three seasons.

In 2001, Blake’s wife, Bakley, was fatally shot outside a restaurant in Los Angeles. While Blake was eventually acquitted of her murder, the case remained one of the most sensationalized criminal trials in Hollywood history.

Blake’s daughter, Rose Lenore Sophia Blake, who was born during his marriage to Bakley, spoke candidly about her mother’s murder in a recent interview with People magazine. She revealed that she spent much of her life trying to come to terms with the loss of her mother and the controversial circumstances surrounding her death.

Robert Blake’s passing marks the end of an era in Hollywood, one that saw a talented actor’s life and career defined by both success and scandal.