Patty Duke
Acting
Anna Marie Duke (December 14, 1946 - March 29, 2016), known professionally as Patty Duke, was an American actress. Beginning her acting career in commercials and playing bit parts in television and movies, her breakthrough role was as Helen Keller in the Broadway version of "The Miracle Worker" (1959 - 1961). For the 1962 film adaptation, Duke reprised her role, which won the Academy Award for best supporting actress - at age 16, she was the youngest person ever to win an Oscar (a record later broken by Tatum O'Neal in 1973). Other early films included Billie (1965), Valley of the Dolls (1967), and Me, Natalie (1969). On television, Duke starred in the popular teen sitcom The Patty Duke Show (1963 - 1966), playing a dual role and garnering the first of ten Emmy nominations. She won Emmys for her roles in television film My Sweet Charlie (1970), miniseries Captains and the Kings (1976), and the 1979 TV movie version of The Miracle Worker (1979), this time portraying Annie Sullivan. She served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 - 1988. Off-screen, Duke's life was often tumultuous. Born in Elmhurst, New York, to Frances Margaret (McMahon), a cashier, and John Patrick Duke, a cab driver and handyman, her acting career began at age eight when she was turned over to her brother Ray Duke's managers, John and Ethel Ross, who changed her name and engaged in exploitative behavior. Duke was married four times: to director Harry Falk from 1965 - 1969; to writer Michael Tell in 1970 (with whom she became mother to actor Sean Astin); to actor John Astin from 1972 - 1985 (with who she became mother to actress Mackenzie Astin); and to drill sergeant Michael Pearce from 1986 until her death (with whom she had two stepdaughters and an adopted son Kevin). In 1982, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which was the subject of her second book, "A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depression Illness" (1992). Duke was also a political advocate for issues such as the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), AIDS awareness, and nuclear disarmament. She died on March 29, 2016, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, of sepsis from a ruptured intestine.
Known for
Acting145
moviePower of the Air
2018
Charlene Summers
tvLiv and Maddie
2013
Grandma Janice / Great Aunt Hilary
tvHawaii Five-0
2010
Sylvia Spencer
tvGlee
2009
Jan
movieGotta Get Off This Merry-Go-Round: 'Valley of the Dolls'
2006
Neely O'Hara/Self
The Divine Ms. Susann
2006
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Dish on Dolls
2006
Neely O'Hara (archive footage)
movieFalling in Love with the Girl Next Door
2006
Bridget Connolly
movieBigger Than the Sky
2005
Mrs. Keene / Earlene
movieMurder Without Conviction
2004
Mother Joseph
movieLittle John
2002
Sylvia
movieLove Lessons
2000
Sunny Andrews
tvBackstory
2000
Herself - Interviewee
movieKimberly
1999
Dr. Feinstenberger
tvFamily Law
1999
Judge Sylvia Formenti
tvJudging Amy
1999
Valerie Bing
movieHollywood Screen Tests: Take 1
1999
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights
1999
Patty Lane / Cathy Lane MacAllister
movieWhen He Didn't Come Home
1998
Faye Dolan
movieTo Face Her Past
1996
Beth Bradfield
movieHarvest of Fire
1996
Annie Beiler
movieRace Against Time: The Search for Sarah
1996
Natalie Porter
movieWhen the Vows Break
1995
Barbara Parker
Amazing Grace
1995
Hannah Miller
tvTouched by an Angel
1994
Nancy Williams / Jean
movieOne Woman's Courage
1994
Grace McKenna
tvIntimate Portrait
1993
Self - Narrator (voice) / Self
movieNo Child of Mine
1993
Lucille Jenkins
tvFrasier
1993
Alice (voice)
movieFamily of Strangers
1993
Beth Thompson
movieA Killer Among Friends
1992
Jean Monroe
moviePrelude to a Kiss
1992
Mrs. Boyle
movieGrave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive
1992
Jean Williams
movieLast Wish
1992
Betty Rollin
tvThe Torkelsons
1991
Catharine Jeffers
movieAbsolute Strangers
1991
Judge Ray
movieAlways Remember I Love You
1990
Ruth Monroe
movieCall Me Anna
1990
Anna Marie Duke/ Patty Duke
movieAmityville: The Evil Escapes
1989
Nancy Evans
Fatal Judgement
1988
Anne Capute
Karen's Song
1987
Karen Matthews
movieFight for Life
1987
Shirley Abrams
movieWilly/Milly
1986
Doris Niceman
George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation
1986
Martha Washington
tvGeorge Washington II: The Forging of a Nation
1986
Martha Washington
tvHail to the Chief
1985
President Julia Mansfield
tvGeorge Washington
1984
Martha Washington
movieBest Kept Secrets
1984
Laura Dietz
movieSeptember Gun
1983
Sister Dulcina
moviePlease Don't Hit Me, Mom
1983
Barbara Reynolds
movieSomething So Right
1982
Jeanne Bosnick
tvIt Takes Two
1982
Molly Quinn
movieBy Design
1982
Helen
movieThe Violation of Sarah McDavid
1981
Sarah McDavid
movieThe Girl on the Edge of Town
1981
Martha Swenson
movieThe Babysitter
1980
Liz Benedict
movieMom, the Wolfman and Me
1980
Deborah Bergman
movieThe Miracle Worker
1979
Anne Sullivan
movieBefore and After
1979
Carole Matthews
movieHanging by a Thread
1979
Sue Grainger
tvHanging by a Thread
1979
Sue Grainger
tvWomen in White
1979
Cathy Payson
movieHaving Babies III
1978
Leslee Wexler
movieThe Storyteller
1977
Sue Davidoff
movieKiller on Board
1977
Norma Walsh
tvThe Love Boat
1977
Shirlee Warner / Lilly Mackim / Jane Fletcher
movieCurse of the Black Widow
1977
Laura Lockwood
movieRosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women
1977
Sylvia Crawford
movieFire!
1977
Dr. Peggy Wilson
movieLook What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby
1976
Rosemary Woodhouse
tvCaptains and the Kings
1976
Bernadette Hennessey Armagh
movieHard Day at Blue Nose
1974
Adelaide
movieNightmare
1974
Jan Richards
movieYou'll Like My Mother
1972
Francesca Kinsolving
tvGhost Story
1972
Linda Colby
movieShe Waits
1972
Laura Wilson
movieIf Tomorrow Comes
1971
Eileen Phillips
movieTwo on a Bench
1971
Macy Kramer
movieBirdbath
1971
Velma Sparrow
movieMy Sweet Charlie
1970
Marlene Chambers
movieMe, Natalie
1969
Natalie Miller
movieJourney to the Unknown
1969
Barbara King
tvJourney to the Unknown
1968
Barbara King
tvThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
Self - Guest
movieValley of the Dolls
1967
Neely O'Hara
movieThe Daydreamer
1966
Thumbelina (voice)
movieBillie
1965
Billie
tvShindig!
1964
Self - Singer
tvThe Patty Duke Show
1963
Patty Lane / Cathy Lane
tvThe Virginian
1962
Sue Ann McRae
movieThe Miracle Worker
1962
Helen Keller
movie4D Man
1959
Marjorie Sutherland
movieMeet Me in St. Louis
1959
Tootie Smith
movieHappy Anniversary
1959
Debbie Walters
movieThe Goddess
1958
Emily Ann Faulkner (Child)
movieWuthering Heights
1958
Young Cathy
An American Girl
1958
Augusta Davis
movieCountry Music Holiday
1958
"Sis" Brand
tvTony Awards
1956
Self - Awards Custodian / Self - Presenter
tvThe Oscars
1953
Self
tvHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Angel / Sylvia
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Presenter
Production1
movieCall Me Anna
1990
Co-Producer