Patty Duke
ActorAdvocate
United States1946–2016
Patty Duke was an American actor who became internationally known as a teenager for playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker, a performance that earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later starred in The Patty Duke Show, built a long television and film career, and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Career and work
Duke began acting as a child and made her Broadway breakthrough as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. She reprised the role in the 1962 film adaptation and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16. [7]
She went on to star in The Patty Duke Show, playing the dual roles of cousins Patty and Cathy Lane. Her later work included Valley of the Dolls, My Sweet Charlie, Captains and the Kings, and a 1979 television adaptation of The Miracle Worker, in which she played Anne Sullivan. Over her career, she won three Emmy Awards. [7]
From 1985 to 1988, Duke served as president of the Screen Actors Guild. [4]
What has been publicly discussed
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
Psychiatric News, 2008MH Advocacy Her “True Calling,” States Actress Patty Duke Covers Duke’s bipolar diagnosis, severe depression, manic episodes, suicide attempts, treatment and later mental-health advocacy.
Television Academy Interviews, 2013Patty Duke A long-form interview covering Duke’s acting career, diagnosis with manic depression, publication of Call Me Anna, and decision to speak publicly and become an advocate.
InterviewLos Angeles Times, 1990Acting Out Anguish: Patty Duke Stars in ABC Movie Exploring Her Manic Depression Discusses Duke’s life before diagnosis, her experience with treatment, and her reflections on living with manic depression.
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SAG-AFTRAPatty Duke Provides career information including The Miracle Worker, The Patty Duke Show, her awards, and her service as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988.
BiographyLos Angeles Times, 2016Patty Duke dies at age 69; Oscar-winning actress and mental health advocate Supports her 1982 diagnosis, treatment with medication and therapy, public disclosure in Call Me Anna, and later advocacy work.
Publishers WeeklyA Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic-Depressive Illness Describes Duke’s book about her experience with manic depression, lithium treatment, and broader information about the illness.
Book or book pageTelevision AcademyTelevision Academy PRLog interviewPRLog interview HealthyPlaceHealthyPlace The Washington PostThe Washington Post
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Recommended books and other resources about Patty Duke and their experiences.
- Call Me Anna: The Autobiography of Patty DukeBook · Patty Duke with Kenneth Turan
Duke’s memoir about her childhood, acting career, personal life and the years leading up to her diagnosis with manic depression.
- A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic-Depressive IllnessBook · Patty Duke with Gloria Hochman
A book focused specifically on Duke’s experience with manic depression, alongside broader discussion of diagnosis and treatment.
- Patty DukeInterview · Television Academy Foundation Interview
A long-form oral-history interview covering her career, diagnosis, treatment and decision to speak publicly about mental illness.
- Patty Duke: The Miracle Worker, Manic Depression & Surviving HollywoodInterview · The Dini Petty Show, 1992
A long-form interview in which Duke discusses her acting career, manic-depressive illness, periods of mania and depression, suicide attempts, treatment, and why she chose to speak publicly about mental illness.