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Patty Duke
Actor

Patty Duke

14 Dec 1946Born
29 Mar 2016Died
69Age at death
124Credits

Biography

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).

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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

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 124 credits.

  1. 2018Power of the AirFilm: Charlene Summers
  2. 2013Liv and MaddieSeries: Grandma Janice, Great Aunt Hilary (1 episode)
  3. 2012Amazing LoveFilm: Helen
  4. 2010Unanswered PrayersFilm: Irene
  5. 2010Hawaii Five-0Series: Sylvia Spencer (1 episode)
  6. 2009Drop Dead DivaSeries (1 episode)
  7. 2009GleeSeries: Jan (1 episode)
  8. 2009Love Finds A HomeFilm: Mary
  9. 2006The Dish on DollsFilm: Neely O'Hara (archive footage)
  10. 2006Falling in Love with the Girl Next DoorFilm: Bridget Connolly
  11. 2005Bigger Than the SkyFilm: Mrs. Keene / Earlene
  12. 2004Murder Without ConvictionFilm: Mother Joseph
  13. 2002Little JohnFilm: Sylvia
  14. 2001Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family StoryFilm: Anne Kincaid
  15. 2001First YearsSeries (1 episode)
  16. 2000Love LessonsFilm: Sunny Andrews
  17. 1999A Season for MiraclesFilm: Angel
  18. 1999KimberlyFilm: Dr. Feinstenberger
  19. 1999Family LawSeries: Judge Sylvia Formenti (1 episode)
  20. 1999Judging AmySeries: Valerie Bing (1 episode)
  21. 1999The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn HeightsFilm: Patty Lane / Cathy Lane MacAllister
  22. 1998When He Didn't Come HomeFilm: Faye Dolan
  23. 1997A Christmas MemoryFilm: Sook
  24. 1996To Face Her PastFilm: Beth Bradfield
  25. 1996Harvest of FireFilm: Annie Beiler
  26. 1996Race Against Time: The Search for SarahFilm: Natalie Porter
  27. 1995When the Vows BreakFilm: Barbara Parker
  28. 1995Amazing GraceSeries: Hannah Miller (5 episodes)
  29. 1994Cries from the HeartFilm: Terry
  30. 1994Touched by an AngelSeries: Nancy Williams, Jean (1 episode)
  31. 1994One Woman's CourageFilm: Grace McKenna
  32. 1993A Matter of JusticeSeries (2 episodes)
  33. 1993No Child of MineFilm: Lucille Jenkins
  34. 1993FrasierSeries: Alice (voice) (1 episode)
  35. 1993Family of StrangersFilm: Beth Thompson
  36. 1992A Killer Among FriendsFilm: Jean Monroe
  37. 1992Prelude to a KissFilm: Mrs. Boyle
  38. 1992Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop DriveFilm: Jean Williams
  39. 1992Last WishFilm: Betty Rollin
  40. 1991The TorkelsonsSeries: Catharine Jeffers (1 episode)
  41. 1991Absolute StrangersFilm: Judge Ray
  42. 1990Always Remember I Love YouFilm: Ruth Monroe
  43. 1990Call Me AnnaFilm: Anna Marie Duke/ Patty Duke
  44. 1989Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClureFilm: Carolyn Henry
  45. 1989Amityville: The Evil EscapesFilm: Nancy Evans
  46. 1989Hitch-HikersFilm
  47. 1988Fatal JudgementFilm: Anne Capute
  48. 1988Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging AceFilm: Althea Sloan
  49. 1987J.J. StarbuckSeries (1 episode)
  50. 1987Karen's SongSeries: Karen Matthews (13 episodes)
  51. 1987Fight for LifeFilm: Shirley Abrams
  52. 1986Willy/MillyFilm: Doris Niceman
  53. 1986George Washington II: The Forging of a NationFilm: Martha Washington
  54. 1986George Washington II: The Forging of a NationSeries: Martha Washington (2 episodes)
  55. 1986A Time to TriumphFilm
  56. 1985Hail to the ChiefSeries: President Julia Mansfield (7 episodes)
  57. 1984George WashingtonSeries: Martha Washington (3 episodes)
  58. 1984Best Kept SecretsFilm: Laura Dietz
  59. 1983September GunFilm: Sister Dulcina
  60. 1983Please Don't Hit Me, MomFilm: Barbara Reynolds
  61. 1982Something So RightFilm: Jeanne Bosnick
  62. 1982It Takes TwoSeries: Molly Quinn (22 episodes)
  63. 1982HotelSeries (1 episode)
  64. 1982By DesignFilm: Helen
  65. 1981The Violation of Sarah McDavidFilm: Sarah McDavid
  66. 1981The Girl on the Edge of TownFilm: Martha Swenson
  67. 1980The BabysitterFilm: Liz Benedict
  68. 1980Mom, the Wolfman and MeFilm: Deborah Bergman
  69. 1980The Women's RoomFilm: Lily
  70. 1979The Miracle WorkerFilm: Anne Sullivan
  71. 1979Before and AfterFilm: Carole Matthews
  72. 1979Hanging by a ThreadSeries: Sue Grainger (2 episodes)
  73. 1979Women in WhiteSeries: Cathy Payson (3 episodes)
  74. 1978The SwarmFilm: Rita
  75. 1978A Family Upside DownFilm: Wendy
  76. 1978Having Babies IIIFilm: Leslee Wexler
  77. 1977The StorytellerFilm: Sue Davidoff
  78. 1977Killer on BoardFilm: Norma Walsh
  79. 1977The Love BoatSeries: Shirlee Warner, Lilly Mackim, Jane Fletcher (1 episode)
  80. 1977Curse of the Black WidowFilm: Laura Lockwood

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.