Actor Robert Blake, known for his long and controversial career, has died at 89, his niece Noreen Austin confirmed. She said he passed away peacefully at home from heart disease, surrounded by family. In his later years, Blake spent his time playing guitar, watching old films, and listening to jazz.

Blake began acting in the late 1930s, debuting as a child in Bridal Suite (1939). Over the decades, he appeared in nearly 150 productions, including his acclaimed roles in In Cold Blood and the hit TV series Baretta, which earned him an Emmy Award. His final dramatic performance came in David Lynch’s Lost Highway (1997).

Despite his professional success, Blake’s life took a dark turn in 2001 when his second wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, was found shot to death in his car outside a Los Angeles restaurant. Bakley, 44, had been married to Blake for only a year. Eleven months later, Blake was arrested and charged with her murder, though he maintained his innocence, claiming he left her in the car to retrieve a gun.

After a lengthy trial, Blake was acquitted in 2005, but the scandal permanently tarnished his reputation. Once celebrated as a Hollywood veteran, he remained a polarizing figure until his death — remembered for both his talent and the tragedy that shadowed his later years.