Robert Blake passed away a few days ago. The 89 year old actor was one of the Little Rascals, he gave an extraordinary performance as a killer in In Cold Blood (clip above), he starred in a popular cop show called Baretta, and he was the Mystery Man in David Lynch's Lost Highway, the role I best remember him for.
When you search for "Lost Highway clip" on YouTube, most of the most popular results are of Blake's character. Lynch made a brilliant choice in casting Blake well against type. His eerie black eyes and tenacious grin create the demoniac man more than the makeup and costume.
Quentin Tarantino dedicated his novelisation of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to Blake. Which has led people to draw comparisons between Blake and the character of Cliff Booth, played by Brad Pitt in the film. Both men may have murdered their wives, neither was found guilty of the crime, leaving only a court of public opinion to weigh in. It's a circumstance more familiar in a David Lynch movie or series, particularly Twin Peaks, which is populated by characters who seem to be different people depending on the circumstance and perspective.
Who was Robert Blake? All I can say for sure is he was a great actor and a fascinating man.
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