Anna Marie “Patty” Duke (born December 14, 1946) is an American actress of stage, film and television.
Patty first became famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16 for her role in The Miracle Worker, which she had originated on Broadway, and she later starred in the eponymous sitcom, The Patty Duke Show. She progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely O’Hara in the 1967 film Valley of the Dolls. She was later elected president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985-1988, succeeding her Patty Duke Show co-star William Schallert.
Duke was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1982; since then, she has devoted much of her time to advocating and educating the public on mental health issues.
In 1996, 30 years after The Patty Duke Show ended, Duke was ranked #40 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.