Robert Blake Calls Dead Wife 'Con Artist' in Piers Morgan Interview
Actor Robert Blake's strange interview with CNN anchor Piers Morgan on Wednesday night is gaining attention, especially because Blake called his deceased wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, a "con artist."
Blake, who has been in show business since he was 2-years-old, initially went on the show, "Piers Morgan Tonight," to promote his new autobiography, entitled Tales of a Rascal, but naturally the conversation steered towards Bakley, whose 2001 murder Blake was acquitted of in 2005.
The interview heated up when Morgan asked Blake about the death and murder of Bakley, saying he was not sure if Blake is telling the truth when he says he is innocent of his wife's murder.
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"Tell me where I'm lying," Blake said.
Morgan replied, "I'm not saying you're lying."
"But you say you don't know if I'm telling the truth, what the hell's the difference?" Blake continued. "I would go out to dinner to kill her, what the [expletive] is the matter with you?"
"Why would I marry her if I was going to kill her? I was worth $25 million. I could have hired somebody to kill her when she was in Tibet or some place," he continued.
Blake went on to speak about his personal relationship with Bakley, saying that he did not passionately love her and she was a con artist. Blake also said that oftentimes he felt sorry for Bakley, because although he himself was suicidal, he was always able to overcome his depression, and she was not.
"I didn't know her well enough to know her. I love her – well, I love you as a human being. You're my brother in arms," Blake told Morgan.
"We're all in this thing together. But we were not dramatically in love or things like that," he added.
When asked if Blake thought his wife was a con artist, Blake replied, "I think she was a con artist, yes. I think she came to Hollywood to con her way into show business."
This was Blake's first interview in 10 years. Although he was acquitted of his wife's murder in 2005 after a media-centered court trial, he was found liable for her death in a civil suit.
Blake, 79, concluded his interview with Morgan by saying that he is lonely, and that the only thing he wants in the remainder of his life is to act in the "most beautiful film that I have ever made."
Blake has previously starred in the film "Cold Blood" and the television series "Baretta" and "Hell Town."
