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Patty Duke

Patty Duke, Academy Award winning actress, past President of the Screen Actors Guild, best selling author, has been delighting and challenging audiences for more than 40 years with her work in movies and on television.

Her Oscar-winning portrayal of blind, mute and deaf Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker launched Patty as one of America's finest young talents.

Still a teenager, she went on to enjoy success in The Patty Duke Show before establishing herself as one of television most versatile and beloved actresses.

Her career has brought her to Broadway, Feature Films, Television Series and Cartoons. Seventy-two television movies have afforded her a wide variety of roles. Neely O'Hara of Valley of the Dolls, Martha Washington in George Washington, Mother of the Bride in Prelude to a Kiss, Helen in the controversial lesbian comedy, By Design and Anne Sullivan in the 1980s remake of The Miracle Worker to cite a few. Patty has received much recognition from her peers - An Oscar, two Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, six Emmy Nominations and a People's Choice Award. Community service awards have honored her commitment to many social issues.

Since the publication of her autobiography, Call Me Anna and her second book, A Brilliant Madness, Patty spends a great deal of time and travel speaking on the topic of mental illness.

Married to Firefighter Michael Pearce, she makes her home in Northern Idaho. It is here that they raise their son, Kevin. She feels with today's approach to our industry, one can live just about anywhere and work with the same zeal as ever.

At the moment only two of her children have joined her in the family business. Sean Astin, well known as Rudy, played Sam in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and his brother, Mackenzie Astin, (Iron Will fame) has just completed a series 1st Years. Both play a great game of All Star Baseball. At this writing, Patty continues to jump from Television to Film to Commercials to Cartoons and the Theatre.

Patty is in her element as her career heads into its Forty-Eighth year. She finds it just as adventurous as it was when she was seven.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2003.

Patty Duke Facts

Birth NameAnna Marie Duke
OccupationActress
BirthdayDecember 14, 1946 (77)
SignSagittarius
BirthplaceElmhurst, New York, USA
Height5' (1m52)  How tall is Patty Duke compared to you?
Awards1970 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical (for Me, Natalie)
1963 Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress (for The Miracle Worker)

Selected Filmography

The Miracle Worker
A Time To Triumph
George Washington
Grave Secrets
Amazing Love: The Story of Hosea
A Killer Among Friends
Valley of the Dolls
Having Babies
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