A year after Robert Blake was acquitted in criminal court of killing his wife, the former tough guy actor spends his days exercising horses at a friend's ranch and planning a comeback.

He acknowledges the past year has often been a time of despair, particularly the civil trial last fall in which a jury ordered him to pay his wife's family $30 million. But the 72-year-old Blake, who was a child actor in the "Our Gang" movie series and a hard-boiled cop in the 1970s TV show "Baretta," says he's finally begun to emerge from that dark period. "I want to live," he says. "Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of my acquittal," he told The Associated Press on Friday in the first interview he's granted since his civil trial.

"I've woken up some nights and wanted to drive till the car goes off a cliff," he said. "And an hour later, poetry is coming to me. I want to go act. I want to go teach. I want to dance. "I can be an actor no matter what happens. I was in the middle of a job when my father committed suicide and I went to work the next day."

He threatened to end the interview when he was asked about Rosie, the daughter he had with his late wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. Rosie, now 5, has been adopted by his adult daughter. At another point, saying he wanted to "sing a song to Rosie," he launched into a melodic rendition of the pop song "You Are So Beautiful to Me." "I'd like to give my best performance," he said. "I'd like to leave a legacy for Rosie about who I am. I'm not ready for a dog and fishing pole yet. I'd like to go to bed each night desperate to wake up each morning and create some magic."

Blake said he's broke and living on his Social Security and Screen Actors Guild pension. With his bankruptcy case pending, he said he needs permission just to get a new car. He's living in a small apartment now, a far cry from the homes he once occupied.

Source: Yahoo

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Posted by Lawren at March 20, 2006 07:44 AM | Trackbacks (0)

You Said

Sounds to me like his doc. needs to up his meds.

Says: Nanc' at March 20, 2006 08:24 AM

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He's 72...I'm thinking he hasn't got THAT much living left to do

Says: CB at March 22, 2006 01:35 PM

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So who cares if he is 72. I find him very sexy, and respect him very much. He has bee through a lot. I'd love to meet him. The first thing I would do is hug him. I am 51 years old and been through a lot in my life and I love Robert Blake because he is a very strong man emotionally and I have been a fan of his for 30 years. I was a big Baretta fan and saw him in "The John List", show. I hope I meet you some day very soon. Congratulations on your beautiful new grandchild. If I meet you some day I would hug you. You need one. I think I must be one of your biggest fans. Take care Darling!

Says: Dawn Freiboth at June 20, 2006 02:12 PM

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