| Patty Duke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anna Marie Duke December 14, 1946 , United States |
| Other names | Patty Duke Astin Anna Duke-Pearce |
| Occupation | Actress, author, mental health advocate |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Spouse | Harry Falk (m. 1965–1969) Michael Tell (m. 1970–1970) John Astin (m. 1972–1985) Michael Pearce (m. 1986–present) |
| Website | |
| http://www.officialpattyduke.com/ | |
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke (born December 14, 1946) is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years. She successfully made the transition to adult roles. She was later elected president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988.
Duke was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1982, and since then has devoted much of her time to advocating and educating the public on mental health issues.
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Duke was born Anna Marie Duke in Elmhurst, Queens, New York, the daughter of Frances (née McMahon), a cashier, and John Patrick Duke, a handyman and cab driver.[1][2] Her father was Irish American and her maternal grandmother was German.[2]
Duke experienced a childhood of hard times. Her father was an alcoholic, and her mother suffered from clinical depression and was prone to violence. When Duke was 6, her mother threw her father out; when she was 8, her mother turned Duke's care over to John and Ethel Ross, who became her managers. The Rosses recognized her talent and promoted her as a child actress.[3]
The Rosses' methods were often unscrupulous and exploitive. For instance, they consistently billed Duke as two years younger than she was, and padded her resume with some false credits.[4] It was Ethel Ross who gave the sweeping name-change order, "Anna Marie is dead, you are Patty now." This would have painful repercussions for Duke in the decades to come. (Her professional name was chosen because the Rosses wanted her to achieve the success of Patty McCormack).[5]
One of Duke's first acting jobs was on the soap opera The Brighter Day, in the late 1950s. She also appeared in print ads and in television commercials. At the age of twelve, Duke appeared on The $64,000 Question and won $32,000. Three years later, it was revealed that the game show was rigged and she was called to testify before a congressional panel.[6]
Duke's first major role was playing Helen Keller (with Anne Bancroft as Annie Sullivan) in the Broadway play The Miracle Worker, which ran for nearly two years (October, 1959 – July, 1961). Midway through the production-run, her name was placed above the title on the marquee.
The play was subsequently made into a 1962 film, for which Duke received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At 16, Duke was the youngest person at that time to receive an Academy Award in a competitive category. Duke then appeared with Laurence Olivier and George C. Scott in a TV production of The Power and the Glory (1961). In a 1979 television movie of "The Miracle Worker", Duke played Sullivan.
In 1963, Duke landed her own series The Patty Duke Show, in which she played both main characters: Patty Lane, an American teenager occasionally getting into minor trouble in school and at home; and her 'prim and proper' "identical cousin" from Scotland, Cathy Lane. The show featured co-stars William Schallert as Patty Lane's father, Jean Byron as her mother, Paul O'Keefe as her brother and Eddie Applegate as her boyfriend, Richard. The show had some guest stars such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, Paul Lynde, Sal Mineo, and the show appeared on TV for three seasons and earned Duke an Emmy Award nomination.
Despite the success of her career, Duke was deeply unhappy during her teenage years. Efforts were taken by the Rosses to portray her as a normal teenager, but Duke has indicated in her memoirs that she was a virtual prisoner of them and had little control over her own life and earnings. The Rosses kept control over Duke and her mother by allowing them only a small amount of money to survive on. The Rosses also began providing Duke with alcohol and prescription drugs when she was 13, which led to substance abuse problems later on (as an adult, Duke accused both John and Ethel Ross of sexual abuse). Upon turning 18, Duke became free of the Rosses, only to find that they had squandered most of her earnings.
In 1967, with The Patty Duke Show cancelled, Duke attempted to leave her childhood success behind and begin her adult acting career by playing Neely O'Hara in Valley of the Dolls. The film was a box office success, but audiences and critics had a difficult time accepting all-American-teenager Duke as an alcoholic, drug-addicted singing star. While the film has since become a camp classic (due in large part to Duke's over-the-top performance[2]), it almost ruined her career at the time. She won a Golden Globe for Me, Natalie in 1969, which also featured Al Pacino in his screen debut, but the film was a failure at the box office.
She made a comeback with the 1970 television movie My Sweet Charlie. Her sensitive portrayal of a pregnant teenager on the run won Duke her first Emmy Award, but her infamous acceptance speech was rambling, angry, and disjointed. This led many in the industry to believe she was using drugs. In fact, Duke was suffering from mania, a part of bipolar disorder, which went undiagnosed until 1982.[2] She received her second Emmy for the TV miniseries, Captains and the Kings in 1977, and her third in 1980 for a TV version of The Miracle Worker in which she played Annie Sullivan to Melissa Gilbert's Helen Keller.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Duke primarily worked in television, including The Women's Room (1980) and George Washington (1984), both of which garnered her Emmy Award nominations. Less frequently during this time period, she made some notable feature film appearances, such as in By Design (1982), for which she received a Genie Award nomination for best actress, and Prelude to a Kiss (1992).
In 2002, Duke returned to New York to appear as Aunt Eller in a revival of Oklahoma!. She returned again in 2005 to attend a memorial service for her former co-star and actress from The Miracle Worker, Anne Bancroft, who had died of uterine cancer earlier in the year.
On November 2, 2004, it was announced that Duke would undergo single bypass surgery in Idaho, which was successful.
On October 4, 2007, Duke appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, talking about her bipolar disorder to a guest, advising the guest to seek out a support group.
In early 2009, Duke reprised her role(s) as Patty Lane/Cathy Lane in PSAs for The Social Security Administration for retiring online.[7][8]
On March 24, 2009, she replaced Carol Kane as Madame Morrible in the San Francisco production of the musical Wicked. She left the production on February 7, 2010.
On July 20, 2009, Duke was given a tribute in her honor at The Castro Theatre in San Francisco entitled "Sparkle, Patty, Sparkle!" During the evening, Duke met and posed for pictures with over one thousand fans and was interviewed on stage by comic Bruce Vilanch. In addition to showing clips from her long career, Duke's 1967 film Valley of the Dolls was screened at the end of the evening. The event sold out the 1400 seat theater.
In 2010, Duke recorded a series of PSAs for the Social Security Administration to help promote applying online for Medicare.
Duke had a successful singing career, including two Top 40 hits in 1965, "Don't Just Stand There" (#8) and "Say Something Funny" (#22). [9] Another successful song was "Dona Dona" in 1968. She performed the second song on The Ed Sullivan Show. Also during 1968, she had appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and after George Jessel's comic appearance, she was introduced and sang an old Irish song, "Danny Boy". She also sang songs on such shows as Shindig!, Kraft Music Hall, The Mike Douglas Show, and The Merv Griffin Show. She had a hit song in her 1965 feature film, Billie, and sang on the soundtrack of the 1966 feature film, The Daydreamer, in which she voiced the character of Thumbelina.
In 1987, Duke revealed in her autobiography that she was diagnosed with manic depression (now called bipolar disorder) in 1982. Her treatment, which included lithium as a medication and therapy, stabilized Duke's life and put her on the road to recovery. She is the first celebrity to go public with her bipolar disorder diagnosis, and has contributed to de-stigmatizing bipolar disorder. Duke has since become an activist for numerous mental health causes. She has lobbied the United States Congress and joined forces with the National Institute of Mental Health and National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in order to increase awareness, funding, and research for people with mental illness.[2]
In 1985, Duke was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild, the second woman to hold the position (Duke held the job until 1988). That same year she also played the first female President of the United States in the sitcom Hail to the Chief.
She authored two books, one her autobiography, Call Me Anna (ISBN 0-553-27205-5), and Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness (ISBN 0-553-56072-7)
On August 17, 2004, Duke received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the motion picture industry.
In December 2007, Duke was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of North Florida for her work in advancing awareness of mental health issues.[10]
On March 6, 2010, Duke was awarded the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Duke was married to first husband, director Harry Falk, from 1965 to 1969. During their four year marriage, Duke suffered from her undiagnosed, untreated manic depression. She became anorexic, drank heavily and overdosed a number of times.[11] Their marriage ended in divorce.
In 1970, at the age of 23, Duke had an affair with 17-year old Desi Arnaz, Jr.[11] The relationship became tabloid fodder, due in part to Lucille Ball's vocal opposition to Duke seeing her son. Duke then began dating actor John Astin. In June–July 1970, she had a brief (13 day) marriage to rock promoter Michael Tell, which ended with an annulment.[11] Duke became pregnant and there was media speculation that the child was Arnaz's. Her son Sean was born in February 1971. Duke claimed in her 1987 autobiography that John Astin was Sean's father (and he did adopt him); she later stated she always thought his biological father was Desi Arnaz, Jr.[2] In 1994, Duke's son, Sean Astin had parental testing done, which revealed that his biological father was actually Duke's second husband, Michael Tell.[12][13] Duke had claimed in her autobiography that her marriage to Tell was never consummated.[2]
In 1972, Duke and actor John Astin were married. He adopted her son, Sean, and fathered her second son, Mackenzie, who was born in 1973. Duke and Astin worked together extensively during their marriage. For a time, Duke added 'Astin' to her professional name.
In 1985, Duke and Astin divorced, and in 1986 she married drill sergeant Michael Pearce, whom she met on the set of a TV movie, A Time To Triumph. The couple moved to Idaho and adopted a son together.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Country Music Holiday | Sis Brand | |
| The Goddess | Emily Ann Faulkner, age 8 | ||
| 1959 | 4D Man | Marjorie Sutherland | |
| Happy Anniversary | Debbie Walters | ||
| 1962 | The Miracle Worker | Helen Keller | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated–Golden Globe |
| 1965 | Billie | Billie Carol | |
| 1966 | The Daydreamer | Thumbelina | Voice |
| 1967 | Think Twentieth | Herself | Short subject |
| Valley of the Dolls | Neely O'Hara | ||
| 1969 | Me, Natalie | Natalie Miller | Golden Globe for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 1972 | You'll Like My Mother | Francesca Kinsolving | |
| 1978 | The Swarm | Rita | |
| 1982 | By Design | Helen | Nominated - Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actress |
| 1986 | Willy/Milly | Doris Niceman | Alternative titles: I Was a Teenage Boy Something Special |
| 1992 | Prelude to a Kiss | Mrs. Boyle | |
| 1999 | Kimberly | Dr. Feinstenberger | Alternative title: Daddy Who? |
| 2005 | Bigger Than the Sky | Mrs. Keene/Earlene | |
| 2008 | The Four Children of Tander Welch | Susan Metler |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963–1966 | The Patty Duke Show | Patty Lane/Cathy Lane | 104 episodes Nominated–Emmy Award; Nominated–Golden Globe |
| 1967 | The Virginian | Sue Ann MacRae | "Sue Ann" Season 5, Episode 16 |
| 1970 | My Sweet Charlie | Marlene Chambers | Television movie Limited theatrical release after television premiere Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1971 | If Tomorrow Comes | Eileen Phillips | Television movie |
| She Waits | Laura Wilson | Television movie | |
| 1972 | Deadly Harvest | Jenny | Television movie |
| 1974 | Nightmare | Jan | Television movie |
| 1976 | Captains and the Kings | Bernadette Hennessey Armagh | Miniseries Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1978 | A Family Upside Down | Wendy | Television movie Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special |
| Having Babies III | Leslee Wexler | Primetime series, 3rd installment Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series |
|
| 1979 | Before and After | Carole Matthews | Television movie |
| The Miracle Worker | Annie Sullivan | Television movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
|
| 1980 | The Babysitter | Liz Benedict | Television movie |
| The Women's Room | Lily | Television movie Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special |
|
| 1981 | The Girl on the Edge of Town | Martha | Television movie Nominated - Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Children's Programming |
| The Violation of Sarah McDavid | Sarah McDavid | Television movie | |
| 1982 | It Takes Two | Molly Quinn | Television series |
| 1983 | September Gun | Sister Dolcina | Television movie |
| 1984 | Insight | Unnamed | Series episode: The Hit Man Nominated - Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Religious Programming - Performers |
| 1984 | George Washington | Martha Washington | Miniseries Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special |
| 1985 | Hail To The Chief | President Julia Mansfield | Television series |
| 1986 | A Time for Triumph | Concetta Hassan | Television movie |
| 1987 | Fight for Life | Shirley Abrams | Television movie |
| Karen's Song | Karen Matthews | Television series | |
| 1988 | Fatal Judgement | Anne Capute | Television movie |
| 1990 | Always Remember I Love You | Ruth Monroe | Television movie |
| Call Me Anna | Herself | Television docudrama | |
| 1991 | A Killer Among Friends | Jean Monroe | Television movie |
| 1992 | Last Wish | Betty Rollin | Television movie |
| 1993 | A Matter of Justice | Mary Brown | Television movie |
| 1994 | Cries from the Heart | Terry | Television movie |
| 1996 | Harvest of Fire | Annie Beiler | Television movie |
| Race Against Time: The Search for Sarah | Natalie | Television movie | |
| 1997 | A Christmas Memory | Sook Faulk | Television movie |
| 1998 | The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights | Patty Lane/Cathy Lane MacAllister | Television movie |
| The Disappearing Act | Faye | Television movie | |
| 1998–2003 | Touched by an Angel | Jean | 3 episodes Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (1999) |
| 1999 | A Season for Miracles | Angel | Television movie |
| 2004 | Judging Amy | Valerie Bing | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door | Bridget Connelly | Television movie |
| 2009 | Love Finds a Home | Mary Watson | Television movie |
Numbers indicate Billboard chart peak positions
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