Patty Duke

Biography

Patty Duke, born Anna Marie Duke on December 14, 1946, and passing away on March 29, 2016, was a celebrated American actress. She embarked on her acting journey with commercials and minor roles in television and film. Her career took a significant turn when she portrayed Helen Keller in the Broadway production of "The Miracle Worker" from 1959 to 1961. Duke reprised this iconic role in the 1962 film adaptation, earning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At just 16 years old, she became the youngest Oscar winner at that time, a record later surpassed by Tatum O'Neal in 1973. Duke's early filmography also includes titles like "Billie" (1965), "Valley of the Dolls" (1967), and "Me, Natalie" (1969). On television, she gained fame through the hit sitcom "The Patty Duke Show" (1963-1966), in which she played two characters and received her first of ten Emmy nominations. She won Emmys for her performances in "My Sweet Charlie" (1970), the miniseries "Captains and the Kings" (1976), and the 1979 television film "The Miracle Worker," where she took on the role of Annie Sullivan. Duke served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988.

Duke's personal life was often challenging. Born in Elmhurst, New York, to Frances Margaret and John Patrick Duke, she started in acting at the age of eight under the management of her brother’s agents, who altered her name and exploited her talent. Throughout her life, she was married four times, including to director Harry Falk and actor John Astin. She also had a son, Sean Astin, with writer Michael Tell, and later adopted a son, Kevin. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1982, she shared her experiences in the book "