ReelRifter
Patty Duke

Patty Duke

Acting

Born December 14, 1946 — Died March 29, 2016 Elmhurst, Queens, New York, United States

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.

TV Shows(50)

Liv and Maddie

Liv and Maddie

Grandma Janice

2013

Hawaii Five-0

Hawaii Five-0

Sylvia Spencer

2010

Drop Dead Diva

Drop Dead Diva

2009

Glee

Glee

Jan

2009

Good Day Live

Good Day Live

Self

2001

First Years

First Years

2001

Backstory

Backstory

Herself - Interviewee

2000

Family Law

Family Law

Judge Sylvia Formenti

1999

Judging Amy

Judging Amy

Valerie Bing

1999

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

Hannah Miller

1995

Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

Nancy Williams

1994

Intimate Portrait

Intimate Portrait

Self - Narrator (voice)

1993

A Matter of Justice

A Matter of Justice

1993

Frasier

Frasier

Alice (voice)

1993

The Torkelsons

The Torkelsons

Catharine Jeffers

1991

J.J. Starbuck

J.J. Starbuck

1987

Karen's Song

Karen's Song

Karen Matthews

1987

George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation

George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation

Martha Washington

1986

Hail to the Chief

Hail to the Chief

President Julia Mansfield

1985

George Washington

George Washington

Martha Washington

1984

It Takes Two

It Takes Two

Molly Quinn

1982

Hotel

Hotel

1982

Entertainment Tonight

Entertainment Tonight

Self

1981

Hanging by a Thread

Hanging by a Thread

Sue Grainger

1979

Women in White

Women in White

Cathy Payson

1979

The Love Boat

The Love Boat

Shirlee Warner

1977

Captains and the Kings

Captains and the Kings

Bernadette Hennessey Armagh

1976

Police Story

Police Story

1973

The Streets of San Francisco

The Streets of San Francisco

1972

Ghost Story

Ghost Story

Linda Colby

1972

The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense

1972

Night Gallery

Night Gallery

1970

Journey to the Unknown

Journey to the Unknown

Barbara King

1968

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

Toni

1968

The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show

Self - Guest

1968

Shindig!

Shindig!

Self - Singer

1964

The Patty Duke Show

The Patty Duke Show

Patty Lane / Cathy Lane

1963

The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show

Self

1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Self

1962

The Virginian

The Virginian

Sue Ann McRae

1962

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

Self

1961

Ben Casey

Ben Casey

1961

DuPont Show of the Month

DuPont Show of the Month

1957

The Perry Como Show

The Perry Como Show

1956

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

Self - Awards Custodian

1956

The Oscars

The Oscars

Self

1953

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Angel

1951

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

Self

1948

Kraft Television Theatre

Kraft Television Theatre

1947

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Self - Presenter

1944

Movies(94)

Power of the Air

Power of the Air

Charlene Summers

2018

Amazing Love

Amazing Love

Helen

2012

Unanswered Prayers

Unanswered Prayers

Irene

2010

Love Finds A Home

Love Finds A Home

Mary

2009

Gotta Get Off This Merry-Go-Round: 'Valley of the Dolls'

Gotta Get Off This Merry-Go-Round: 'Valley of the Dolls'

Neely O'Hara/Self

2006

The Divine Ms. Susann

The Divine Ms. Susann

Self (archive footage)

2006

The Dish on Dolls

The Dish on Dolls

Neely O'Hara (archive footage)

2006

Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door

Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door

Bridget Connolly

2006

Bigger Than the Sky

Bigger Than the Sky

Mrs. Keene / Earlene

2005

Murder Without Conviction

Murder Without Conviction

Mother Joseph

2004

Sex at 24 Frames Per Second

Sex at 24 Frames Per Second

Self

2003

Little John

Little John

Sylvia

2002

Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story

Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story

Anne Kincaid

2001

Love Lessons

Love Lessons

Sunny Andrews

2000

A Season for Miracles

A Season for Miracles

Angel

1999

Kimberly

Kimberly

Dr. Feinstenberger

1999

Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 1

Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 1

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

1999

The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights

The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights

Patty Lane / Cathy Lane MacAllister

1999

When He Didn't Come Home

When He Didn't Come Home

Faye Dolan

1998

A Christmas Memory

A Christmas Memory

Sook

1997

To Face Her Past

To Face Her Past

Beth Bradfield

1996

Harvest of Fire

Harvest of Fire

Annie Beiler

1996

Race Against Time: The Search for Sarah

Race Against Time: The Search for Sarah

Natalie Porter

1996

When the Vows Break

When the Vows Break

Barbara Parker

1995

Cries from the Heart

Cries from the Heart

Terry

1994

One Woman's Courage

One Woman's Courage

Grace McKenna

1994

No Child of Mine

No Child of Mine

Lucille Jenkins

1993

Family of Strangers

Family of Strangers

Beth Thompson

1993

A Killer Among Friends

A Killer Among Friends

Jean Monroe

1992

Prelude to a Kiss

Prelude to a Kiss

Mrs. Boyle

1992

Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

Jean Williams

1992

Last Wish

Last Wish

Betty Rollin

1992

Absolute Strangers

Absolute Strangers

Judge Ray

1991

Always Remember I Love You

Always Remember I Love You

Ruth Monroe

1990

Call Me Anna

Call Me Anna

Anna Marie Duke/ Patty Duke

1990

Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure

Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure

Carolyn Henry

1989

Amityville: The Evil Escapes

Amityville: The Evil Escapes

Nancy Evans

1989

Hitch-Hikers

Hitch-Hikers

1989

Fatal Judgement

Fatal Judgement

Anne Capute

1988

Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace

Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace

Althea Sloan

1988

Fight for Life

Fight for Life

Shirley Abrams

1987

Willy/Milly

Willy/Milly

Doris Niceman

1986

George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation

George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation

Martha Washington

1986

A Time to Triumph

A Time to Triumph

1986

Best Kept Secrets

Best Kept Secrets

Laura Dietz

1984

September Gun

September Gun

Sister Dulcina

1983

Please Don't Hit Me, Mom

Please Don't Hit Me, Mom

Barbara Reynolds

1983

Something So Right

Something So Right

Jeanne Bosnick

1982

By Design

By Design

Helen

1982

I Love Liberty

I Love Liberty

Self

1982

The Violation of Sarah McDavid

The Violation of Sarah McDavid

Sarah McDavid

1981

The Girl on the Edge of Town

The Girl on the Edge of Town

Martha Swenson

1981

The Babysitter

The Babysitter

Liz Benedict

1980

Mom, the Wolfman and Me

Mom, the Wolfman and Me

Deborah Bergman

1980

The Women's Room

The Women's Room

Lily

1980

The Miracle Worker

The Miracle Worker

Anne Sullivan

1979

Before and After

Before and After

Carole Matthews

1979

Hanging by a Thread

Hanging by a Thread

Sue Grainger

1979

The Swarm

The Swarm

Rita

1978

A Family Upside Down

A Family Upside Down

Wendy

1978

Having Babies III

Having Babies III

Leslee Wexler

1978

Inside 'the Swarm'

Inside 'the Swarm'

Self

1978

The Storyteller

The Storyteller

Sue Davidoff

1977

Killer on Board

Killer on Board

Norma Walsh

1977

Curse of the Black Widow

Curse of the Black Widow

Laura Lockwood

1977

Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women

Rosetti and Ryan: Men Who Love Women

Sylvia Crawford

1977

Fire!

Fire!

Dr. Peggy Wilson

1977

Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby

Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary Woodhouse

1976

Hard Day at Blue Nose

Hard Day at Blue Nose

Adelaide

1974

Nightmare

Nightmare

Jan Richards

1974

You'll Like My Mother

You'll Like My Mother

Francesca Kinsolving

1972

Deadly Harvest

Deadly Harvest

Jenny

1972

She Waits

She Waits

Laura Wilson

1972

If Tomorrow Comes

If Tomorrow Comes

Eileen Phillips

1971

Two on a Bench

Two on a Bench

Macy Kramer

1971

Birdbath

Birdbath

Velma Sparrow

1971

My Sweet Charlie

My Sweet Charlie

Marlene Chambers

1970

Me, Natalie

Me, Natalie

Natalie Miller

1969

Journey to the Unknown

Journey to the Unknown

Barbara King

1969

Valley of the Dolls

Valley of the Dolls

Neely O'Hara

1967

Valley of the Dolls: A World Premiere Voyage

Valley of the Dolls: A World Premiere Voyage

Interviewee

1967

Jacqueline Susann and the Valley of the Dolls

Jacqueline Susann and the Valley of the Dolls

1967

The Daydreamer

The Daydreamer

Thumbelina (voice)

1966

Billie

Billie

Billie

1965

The Power and the Glory

The Power and the Glory

Coral

1963

The Miracle Worker

The Miracle Worker

Helen Keller

1962

4D Man

4D Man

Marjorie Sutherland

1959

Meet Me in St. Louis

Meet Me in St. Louis

Tootie Smith

1959

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary

Debbie Walters

1959

Swiss Family Robinson

Swiss Family Robinson

Lydia

1958

The Goddess

The Goddess

Emily Ann Faulkner (Child)

1958

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights

Young Cathy

1958

An American Girl

An American Girl

Augusta Davis

1958

Country Music Holiday

Country Music Holiday

"Sis" Brand

1958