Miss Kitty's Fortune: What Was Amanda Blake's Net Worth And Her $1.27 Million Legacy?

The enduring fascination with the classic Western series Gunsmoke continues to drive curiosity about the cast’s financial success, particularly that of the iconic saloon proprietor, Miss Kitty Russell. As of December 2025, a deep dive into the financial records and career earnings of actress Amanda Blake reveals a modest, yet impactful, estate that was built over nearly two decades on one of television's longest-running shows.

Amanda Blake’s net worth at the time of her passing in 1989 was widely reported to be approximately $500,000. While this figure may seem surprisingly low for a star of her caliber, it is crucial to understand its context. When adjusted for inflation to the current economic climate of 2024, that $500,000 fortune is equivalent to an impressive purchasing power of approximately $1.27 million. This calculation provides a much clearer picture of the wealth she accumulated through her acting career and subsequent business ventures.

Amanda Blake: A Complete Biographical Profile

Born Beverly Louise Neill, Amanda Blake became a household name as the fiery, kind-hearted Miss Kitty Russell. Her life was a vibrant tapestry of major television stardom, multiple marriages, and a profound dedication to animal welfare that defined her post-Hollywood legacy.

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• Full Name: Beverly Louise Neill
• Stage Name: Amanda Blake
• Date of Birth: February 20, 1929
• Place of Birth: Buffalo, New York, U.S.
• Date of Death: August 16, 1989 (Age 60)
• Place of Death: Sacramento, California, U.S.
• Cause of Death: Liver failure (Complications from AIDS, though initially reported as cancer)
• Occupation: Actress, Animal Rights Activist
• Known For: Miss Kitty Russell on Gunsmoke (1955–1974)
• Spouses (Five Marriages):
  • Don Whitman (m. 1954; div. 1956)
  • Jason Seymour Day Jr. (m. 1957; div. 1959)
  • Frank Gilbert (m. 1964; div. 1982)
  • Mark Edward Spaeth (m. 1984; d. 1985)
  • Blake was also briefly married to Don Murray, though records and sources often conflict on the exact number and names, with Frank Gilbert being her longest marriage.
• Children: None
• Philanthropy: Co-founder of the Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL)

The Gunsmoke Salary: How Miss Kitty’s Earnings Built Her Net Worth

The vast majority of Amanda Blake's wealth was generated during her tenure on Gunsmoke. She appeared in a staggering 569 episodes over 19 seasons, making her one of the most visible actresses on television for two decades. Her salary trajectory is a perfect example of how classic television stars eventually commanded massive paychecks as a show’s popularity exploded.

Initial Earnings vs. Peak Paycheck

When Gunsmoke first premiered in 1955, salaries were relatively low by modern standards. However, as the show became a cultural phenomenon, Blake’s compensation grew significantly. Her co-star, James Arness (Marshal Matt Dillon), saw his salary soar, and Blake followed suit.

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• Early Seasons: While initial figures are not precisely known, main cast members like Blake and Milburn Stone (Doc Adams) started with modest paychecks, possibly in the low hundreds per episode.
• Peak Salary: By the later seasons of the show, Amanda Blake was reportedly earning an estimated $10,000 to $12,000 per episode.

Considering her role as a main cast member for 569 episodes at that peak rate, her total gross earnings from *Gunsmoke* alone would have been in the millions, a significant sum for the era. However, actors from that time often did not benefit from the lucrative syndication deals that later stars would, which explains why her final net worth was not in the tens of millions.

Beyond Dodge City: Investments and Animal Activism

While her role as Miss Kitty was her primary source of income, Amanda Blake was also a shrewd businesswoman and a dedicated philanthropist. These activities and investments played a significant role in her overall financial portfolio and legacy.

The Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL)

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Blake’s passion for animals was not just a hobby; it was a major life commitment. In 1971, while still starring on Gunsmoke, she co-founded the Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL) in Phoenix. This organization is now recognized as the oldest and largest no-kill shelter in the state of Arizona. Her foundation work and fundraising efforts, including her famous pet cheetah and her pet lion, Kemo, brought significant attention and resources to animal rights causes.

Real Estate and Assets

Although specific details of her real estate portfolio are scarce, it is known that Blake resided in a home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was actively involved with the AAWL. Her final net worth of $500,000 would have been comprised of the value of her primary residence, any secondary properties, investments, and liquid assets accumulated from her career earnings. The costs associated with her five marriages and subsequent divorces, as well as her extensive philanthropic work, may have also impacted her final reported estate value.

Other Key Roles and LSI Entities in Her Career

To fully appreciate the scope of Amanda Blake's financial and professional life, it is important to recognize her work outside the *Gunsmoke* universe. These roles, though less famous, contributed to her consistent income stream and cemented her status as a versatile actress.

• Early Film Career: Before television, Blake appeared in several films in the 1950s, including Lili (1953) and A Star Is Born (1954).
• Soap Opera: She had a role on the daytime drama The Edge of Night.
• Variety Shows: Blake was a frequent guest on popular programs like The Red Skelton Show.
• Reunion Films: She reprised her iconic role for the television movie Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987), which provided a significant late-career paycheck.
• Final Film Appearance: Her last major film role was in the 1988 drama The Boost, starring James Woods and Sean Young.
• Other TV: She also appeared in episodes of The New Dragnet and B.O.R.N.

The combination of her steady, high-paying role as Miss Kitty, the income from her various film and television appearances, and the value of her real estate and investments contributed to her final estate. While the reported $500,000 net worth may seem small compared to today's multi-millionaire TV stars, its inflation-adjusted value of over $1.27 million is a testament to her financial success during the Golden Age of Television.