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How did Miss Kitty die on Gunsmoke?

By Maria Schulz

Amanda Blake turned heads and stole hearts for 19 years as the actress who portrayed Miss Kitty Russell on Gunsmoke. She is remembered and loved as the sassy proprietor of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. Blake starred opposite a little-known newcomer named James Arness, who landed the part of Marshal Matt Dillon. Sparks flew in every episode.

The next 19 years were happy ones as the cast and crew created one of the most iconic and beloved Western TV shows of all time. Blake once said that working on Gunsmoke was like working with family, and she’d often visit the set even when she wasn’t working because it felt like home to her.

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To this day, Gunsmoke fans still clamor for their favorite saloon owner and madame. A question that seems to come up often is regarding Miss Kitty’s cause of death on Gunsmoke. It’s a good question, but … Miss Kitty did not die on Gunsmoke.

When she decided not to return after the 19th season, she cited poor health and exhaustion as the cause. As a result, she was written off the show. When Gunsmoke returned for its 20th and final season, viewers learned that Miss Kitty had moved back to New Orleans.

But hold on! Some may remember an episode where Miss Kitty was shot. Congratulations—you’re right! Miss Kitty was shot and injured in Season 5, Episode 24. Titled “Kitty’s Killing,” cowboy Jake Bayloe guns down Marshal Dillon’s partner at the Long Branch Saloon, and Kitty is critically wounded in the crossfire. Thankfully, she does not die, and Miss Kitty lives to see many more days.

Did Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty Ever Kiss?

If you’re wondering how Amanda Blake died in real life, it’s complicated. When Blake passed away, initial reports claimed that the beloved actress died of cancer. It was well-known that Blake was a lifelong, heavy smoker. It was also true that Blake was diagnosed with cancer more than a decade earlier. But she was treated successfully for that illness with surgery in 1977.

When Amanda Blake died on Aug. 16, 1989, her cancer was in remission. Her doctor confirmed that her death was due to AIDS-related pneumonia. Blake was just 60 when she passed away. Her fifth husband, Mark Spaeth, also died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1985.

While her passing will always be mourned, fans were blessed with many seasons of Gunsmoke with which to remember her. Catch her in action—along with Marshal Matt Dillon and more beloved characters from Dodge City—on INSP. Check your local listings for details.

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