Oscar-Winning Actress Patty Duke Passes Away at 69

Actress Patty Duke, who won an Academy Award in 1963 at the age 16 for her portrayal of Helen Keller in movie "The Miracle Worker" has died.

In 1963, she was the star of her own TV series, The Patty Duke Show, where Duke's real-life bipolar personality disorder became the source of stories about identical cousins with very different personalities.

In describing the role of Aunt Eller, and perhaps herself, to The Associated Press, she said, "This is a woman who has had strife in life, made her peace with some of it and has come to the point of acceptance".

The Patty Duke Mental Health Project: https://www.crowdrise.com/patty-duke-mental-health-project/fundraiser/seanastin1 Duke was born on December 14, 1946 in Elmhurst, Queens, NY. She won two Golden Globes, and picked up three Emmys, including one in 1980 for the TV adaptation of The Miracle Worker, in which she now played Sullivan. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1982, and she wrote about the disease in her 1992 autobiography Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness. It's joy. People always say we're going to celebrate her life.

She underwent a heart bypass in 2004. The Hollywood icon went from child star to respected actress and Screen Actors Guild president all while balancing a troubled personal life and mental health issues.

She was the youngest actress at the time, at age 12, to have her name above the marquee title on Broadway, starring in the play for about a year and a half before reprising her role in the film version.

Later, Duke married John Astin, and he adopted her son.

She was married four times, to Harry Falk, Michael Tell (though the brief marriage was annulled), actor John Astin and Michael Pearce.

She's survived by her husband of 30 years, Michael Pearce and their son, Kevin Pearce.

Actress Holly Robinson Peete was among the many paying tribute to Duke, calling her a "legendary actor" and "eloquent humanitarian". She first tackled the role on Broadway at 13 years old (also opposite Bancroft), having trained with her manager to do things blindfolded for a year beforehand.

In 1970, Duke, 23, had a relationship Desi Arnaz Jr., who was 17.