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Patty Duke

Actor

Patty Duke

Born December 14, 1946 in Elmhurst, Queens, New York, United StatesDied March 29, 201684 films

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.

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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.

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The best way into Patty Duke's work
The Miracle Worker posterFirst watchThe Miracle Worker19627.9as Helen KellerThe true story of the frightening, lonely world of silence and darkness of 7-year-old Helen Keller who, since infancy, has never seen the sky, heard her mother's voice or expressed her…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Valley of the Dolls poster6.0Valley of the Dolls1967A Killer Among Friends poster7.2A Killer Among Friends1992Prelude to a Kiss poster5.6Prelude to a Kiss1992The Swarm poster5.0The Swarm19784D Man poster5.84D Man1959Amityville: The Evil Escapes poster4.6Amityville: The Evil Escapes1989

Filmography

84 films as actor
  1. 2018Power of the AirCharlene Summers
  2. 2012Amazing LoveHelen
  3. 2010Unanswered PrayersIrene
  4. 2009Love Finds A HomeMary
  5. 2006Falling in Love with the Girl Next DoorBridget Connolly
  6. 2005Bigger Than the SkyMrs. Keene / Earlene
  7. 2004Murder Without ConvictionMother Joseph
  8. 2002Little JohnSylvia
  9. 2001Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family StoryAnne Kincaid
  10. 2000Love LessonsSunny Andrews
  11. 1999A Season for MiraclesAngel
  12. 1999KimberlyDr. Feinstenberger
  13. 1999The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn HeightsPatty Lane / Cathy Lane MacAllister
  14. 1998When He Didn't Come HomeFaye Dolan
  15. 1997A Christmas MemorySook
  16. 1996To Face Her PastBeth Bradfield
  17. 1996Harvest of FireAnnie Beiler
  18. 1996Race Against Time: The Search for SarahNatalie Porter
  19. 1995When the Vows BreakBarbara Parker
  20. 1994Cries from the HeartTerry
  21. 1994One Woman's CourageGrace McKenna
  22. 1993No Child of MineLucille Jenkins
  23. 1993Family of StrangersBeth Thompson
  24. 1992A Killer Among FriendsJean Monroe
  25. 1992Prelude to a KissMrs. Boyle
  26. 1992Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop DriveJean Williams
  27. 1992Last WishBetty Rollin
  28. 1991Absolute StrangersJudge Ray
  29. 1990Always Remember I Love YouRuth Monroe
  30. 1990Call Me AnnaAnna Marie Duke/ Patty Duke
  31. 1989Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClureCarolyn Henry
  32. 1989Amityville: The Evil EscapesNancy Evans
  33. 1989Hitch-Hikers
  34. 1988Fatal JudgementAnne Capute
  35. 1988Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging AceAlthea Sloan
  36. 1987Fight for LifeShirley Abrams
  37. 1986Willy/MillyDoris Niceman
  38. 1986George Washington II: The Forging of a NationMartha Washington
  39. 1986A Time to Triumph
  40. 1984Best Kept SecretsLaura Dietz
  41. 1983September GunSister Dulcina
  42. 1983Please Don't Hit Me, MomBarbara Reynolds
  43. 1982Something So RightJeanne Bosnick
  44. 1982By DesignHelen
  45. 1981The Violation of Sarah McDavidSarah McDavid
  46. 1981The Girl on the Edge of TownMartha Swenson
  47. 1980The BabysitterLiz Benedict
  48. 1980Mom, the Wolfman and MeDeborah Bergman
  49. 1980The Women's RoomLily
  50. 1979The Miracle WorkerAnne Sullivan
  51. 1979Before and AfterCarole Matthews
  52. 1978The SwarmRita
  53. 1978A Family Upside DownWendy
  54. 1978Having Babies IIILeslee Wexler
  55. 1977The StorytellerSue Davidoff
  56. 1977Killer on BoardNorma Walsh
  57. 1977Curse of the Black WidowLaura Lockwood
  58. 1977Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love WomenSylvia Crawford
  59. 1977Fire!Dr. Peggy Wilson
  60. 1976Look What's Happened to Rosemary's BabyRosemary Woodhouse
  61. 1974Hard Day at Blue NoseAdelaide
  62. 1974NightmareJan Richards
  63. 1972You'll Like My MotherFrancesca Kinsolving
  64. 1972Deadly HarvestJenny
  65. 1972She WaitsLaura Wilson
  66. 1971If Tomorrow ComesEileen Phillips
  67. 1971Two on a BenchMacy Kramer
  68. 1971BirdbathVelma Sparrow
  69. 1970My Sweet CharlieMarlene Chambers
  70. 1969Me, NatalieNatalie Miller
  71. 1969Journey to the UnknownBarbara King
  72. 1967Valley of the DollsNeely O'Hara
  73. 1966The DaydreamerThumbelina (voice)
  74. 1965BillieBillie
  75. 1963The Power and the GloryCoral
  76. 1962The Miracle WorkerHelen Keller
  77. 19594D ManMarjorie Sutherland
  78. 1959Meet Me in St. LouisTootie Smith
  79. 1959Happy AnniversaryDebbie Walters
  80. 1958Swiss Family RobinsonLydia
  81. 1958The GoddessEmily Ann Faulkner (Child)
  82. 1958Wuthering HeightsYoung Cathy
  83. 1958An American GirlAugusta Davis
  84. 1958Country Music Holiday"Sis" Brand