Blake began acting as a child, with a lead role in the final years of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Our Gang" ("Little Rascals") short film series from 1939 to 1944. He also appeared as a child actor in 22 entries of the "Red Ryder" film franchise. In the "Red Ryder" series and in many of his adult roles, Blake was cast as an American Indian or Latino character. After a stint in the United States Army, Blake returned to acting in both television and movie roles. Blake continued acting until 1997's "Lost Highway" in a career that author Michael Newton called "one of the longest in Hollywood history."