Miss Kitty was a beloved fan-favorite on Gunsmoke. The fiery and charismatic owner of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City was brought to life by actress Amanda Blake. Blake’s portrayal left an indelible mark on the western genre of television, and her legacy extends far beyond the screen through her tireless work as an animal rights activist, making her a true icon both in entertainment and in society.
Blake, born Beverly Louise Neill in 1929 in Buffalo, New York, had an intriguing lineage. Fun fact: she was a distant relative of Kate Barry, a Revolutionary War heroine who played a pivotal role in the American victory at the Battle of Cowpens, which was instrumental in the subsequent triumph at Yorktown. An only child, Beverly Louise remained in New York until her teenage years before making the bold decision to move west to California. There, she landed a job as a telephone operator, a role that serendipitously launched her acting career. This job provided her with valuable experience in radio, which eventually paved the way for her transition to the screen.
Before making it to the screen, the redheaded Blake honed her acting skills on the stage, where she caught the eye of major Hollywood studio MGM. They saw her potential and decided she was destined to be the next Greer Garson, one of the biggest box office stars of the 1940s. Blake made her film debut in 1950 in the western film *Stars in My Crown*. It seems only fitting that she would launch her career in the Wild West, as this genre would come to define her legacy. Her name was changed to Amanda Blake, a moniker that certainly had more star power than Beverly Neill.