According to her book "Call Me Anna" she was pregnant and unmarried when she met Michael Tell and she married him to give the unborn child a name. Sean was conceived around the time she was involved with John Astin.
Although she had been on stage and in film for over five years at the time she appeared in Valley of the Dolls (1967), she said it was her co-star Sharon Tate who taught her how to use make-up to her best advantage.
At the time she won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar, she was the youngest person ever to win an Oscar in a competitive category. (In 1973, Tatum O'Neal became the youngest person to win a competitive Academy Awards at the age of 10). This is partially because AMPAS discontinued their practice of awarding miniature Oscars to "child" actors following Hayley Mills' mini-statuette in 1961 for Pollyanna (1960), allowing actors of all ages to compete for "regular" Academy Awards.
Born at 10:39 PM EST.
Early in her career, she appeared in television commercials, including one for the Remco Movieland Drive-In Theatre (at your favorite toy store...only $5.98).
Early in her career, she won the top prize on the "The $64,000 Question" (1955) game show.
Grandmother of actress Alexandra Astin, Isabella Louise Astin and Elizabeth Louise Astin.
Has a gold record, 1965's "Please, Just Don't Stand There" in addition to her acting awards.
Her mother, Frances Duke, died in 1993.
Her second marriage to Michael Tell came about suddenly during a particular virulent manic attack, ignited by a broken romance with Desi Arnaz Jr.. The marriage lasted 13 days.
Mother of actors Sean Astin and Mackenzie Astin
Moved, with husband Michael Pearce, to Idaho in 1990.
Parents are Frances and John Patrick Duke; her father was an alcoholic and left the family when Patty was very young.
President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG). [1985-1988]
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in August, 2004.
She has been diagnosed as being manic-depressive, and has co-authored a book about the disorder, "A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic-Depressive Illness"
She was the youngest actress at the time (12) to have her name above the marquee title on Broadway ("The Miracle Worker") and the youngest ever (16) to have a TV series bearing her name ("The Patty Duke Show" (1963)).
She won an Oscar for playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962), making her one of 12 actors to win the Award for playing a real person who was still alive at the evening of the Award ceremony (as of 2007). The other ten actors and their respective performances are: Spencer Tracy for playing Father Edward Flanagan in Boys Town (1938); Gary Cooper for playing Alvin C. York in Sergeant York (1941); Jason Robards for playing Benjamin C. Bradlee in All the President's Men (1976); Robert De Niro for playing Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980); Sissy Spacek for playing Loretta Lynn in
Sister of Ray Duke and Carol Duke Kennedy. Patty is the youngest of the three.
Son, with Pearce, Kevin born. [1988]