Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake celebrated for her role as Miss Kitty in Gunsmoke, faced personal tragedy when her husband, Mark Spaeth, passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1985. Spaeth’s sexuality was known to be gay, a fact that added complexity to their relationship.

Stricken by grief and grappling with her health, Blake tragically succumbed to AIDS-related complications four years later. Their shared experience underscores the devastating toll of the AIDS epidemic on individuals and families.