Who was Michael Blake?
Michael Blake was an American writer who won an Academy Award for adapting his novel Dances With Wolves into a screenplay for the 1990 film of the same name. He also wrote several other novels, including The Holy Road, the sequel to Dances With Wolves, and Indian Yell, a collection of stories about Native Americans. He was a passionate advocate for the protection of wild horses and Native American history and culture.
How did Michael Blake die?
According to CBC News, Michael Blake died on Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Tucson, Arizona, after a long battle with cancer. He was 69 years old. His business partner, Daniel Ostroff, confirmed his death to the media. Blake is survived by his wife, Marianne Mortensen Blake, and their three children, all named after Native Americans that the couple admired.
What was Michael Blake’s legacy?
Michael Blake’s legacy is best remembered by his novel and film Dances With Wolves, which has sold more than 3.5 million copies and has been translated into 15 languages. The film, directed by and starring Kevin Costner, won seven Oscars, including best picture and best adapted screenplay for Blake. It also won a Golden Globe and a WGA Award for Blake’s script. The film is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential Westerns ever made, as it portrayed the Native Americans in a sympathetic and realistic light, challenging the stereotypes and prejudices of the genre.
Blake’s other works also reflect his interest and respect for the Native American people and their history. His sequel to Dances With Wolves, The Holy Road, follows the lives of the Lakota tribe as they face the encroachment of white settlers and the US Army in the late 19th century. His book Indian Yell features stories of various Native American figures, such as Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and Geronimo. Blake also wrote a screenplay based on the German novel Winnetou, which is about the friendship between a German adventurer and a Native American chief.
Blake was also a devoted activist for the preservation of wild horses and burros, which he considered to be a symbol of the American spirit and freedom. He was a member of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, and donated a portion of his royalties from his books to the organization. He also supported the literacy programs and the Native American studies at the University of New Mexico, where he briefly studied before becoming a writer.
Michael Blake was a talented and visionary writer who left a lasting impact on the world of literature and cinema. He was also a generous and humble man who cared deeply about the causes he believed in. He will be missed by his family, friends, and fans.
