Duke, Patty (1946–)
Duke, Patty (1946–)
American actress. Name variations: Patty Duke Astin. Born Anna Marie Duke, Dec 14, 1946, in Elmhurst, NY; m. Harry Falk, 1965 (div. 1969); m. Michael Tell, 1970 (annulled 1970); m. John Astin (actor), 1972 (div. 1985); m. Michael Pearce, 1986; children: (3rd m.) 2 sons, Sean Astin and Mackenzie Astin (both actors); (4th m.) (adopted) Kevin Pearce (b. 1988).
In a career guided by managers John and Ethel Ross (who effectively replaced her parents), came to prominence on Broadway as a young Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1959–61) and in the film of the same name, for which she won an Academy Award (1962); starred on "The Patty Duke Show" (1963–66), the youngest actor to have her own tv series, and won an Emmy; was also in the miniseries "Captains and Kings" (1976), winning another Emmy; won 3rd Emmy portraying Annie Sullivan in "The Miracle Worker" (1979); films include Billie (1965), Valley of the Dolls (1967), Me, Natalie (1969) and Kimberly (1999); appeared in numerous tv movies; was president of Screen Actors Guild (SAG, 1985–88); diagnosed with manic-depressive illness (1982), wrote A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depression Illness (1992).
See also autobiography, Call Me Anna (1987).