Blake Heron (January 11, 1982 – September 8, 2017) was an American screen actor. He is best known for his starring role as Marty Preston in the 1996 film Shiloh.

Early life

Heron was born in Sherman Oaks, California on January 11, 1982. After his parents divorced, he moved with his mother to Atlanta, then to New York City, and finally to Burbank, California, where he began his acting career.

Career

At the age of 13, he made his film debut in the Disney film Tom and Huck (1995) and the television series Reality Check (1995). When the series did not last, Heron starred in several television movies, including Trilogy of Terror II (1996). Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher (1996) was his biggest role at the age of 14. He played the flirtatious jock, Jordan. In 1997, he was recognized for his portrayal as Marty Preston in the Warner Bros. hit Shiloh (1996).

After graduating from high school in 2000, Heron avoided child roles and took on more serious adult roles. In the HBO movie Cheaters (2000/1) he played a conspiring dark teen, then had the same type of role in Blast (2000). After appearing in television hits such as Boston Public (2000), Family Law (1999) and The Guardian, he took on the role of Specialist Galen Bungum in We Were Soldiers (2002). He also appeared in Dandelion (2004). He recently appeared in the documentary A Thousand Junkies, which premiered at the TriBeCa Film Festival.

Death

On September 8, 2017, Heron was found unresponsive by his girlfriend in his Los Angeles home. He was pronounced dead, aged 35, after paramedics were unable to revive him. He had battled drug addiction since the age of 12, and had just completed drug rehab for heroin addiction days before he passed away.