Patty Duke was a legendary actress who won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, and three Emmys in her career. She was also a mental health advocate and a former president of the Screen Actors Guild. She died on March 29, 2016, at the age of 69, from sepsis caused by a ruptured intestine. How much was her net worth at the time of her death and what did she leave behind for her family and fans?
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Patty Duke’s Early Life and Career
Patty Duke was born Anna Marie Duke on December 14, 1946, in New York City. She had a difficult childhood, as her father was an alcoholic and her mother suffered from clinical depression. When she was eight, she was taken under the care of talent managers John and Ethel Ross, who changed her name to Patty and exploited her for their own gain. They gave her alcohol and drugs, took high fees from her earnings, and made sexual advances to her.
Despite the abuse, Patty Duke showed remarkable talent as an actress. She made her Broadway debut at the age of 12, playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. She reprised the role in the 1962 film adaptation, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 16. She became the youngest person ever to win an Oscar at that time.
She then starred in her own sitcom, The Patty Duke Show, from 1963 to 1966, playing identical cousins Cathy and Patty Lane. She also appeared in films such as Billie (1965), Valley of the Dolls (1967), and Me, Natalie (1969), for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
Patty Duke’s Personal Life and Mental Health Struggles
Patty Duke married four times in her life. Her first husband was Harry Falk, a director, whom she married in 1965 and divorced in 1969. Her second husband was Michael Tell, a rock promoter, whom she married in 1970 and annulled in 1971. Her third husband was John Astin, an actor, whom she married in 1972 and divorced in 1985. Her fourth and final husband was Michael Pearce, a drill sergeant, whom she married in 1986.
Patty Duke had three children: Sean Astin and Mackenzie Astin, both actors, from her marriage to John Astin; and Kevin Pearce, from her marriage to Michael Pearce. She also had six grandchildren.
Patty Duke suffered from bipolar disorder, a mental illness that causes mood swings, depression, and mania. She was diagnosed with the condition in 1982, after years of erratic behavior and substance abuse. She became one of the first celebrities to openly talk about her mental health issues and advocate for others who were suffering from them. She wrote two books about her experiences: Call Me Anna (1987), an autobiography; and A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness (1992), a memoir.
Patty Duke’s Death and Legacy
Patty Duke died on March 29, 2016, at a hospital in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The cause of death was sepsis from a ruptured intestine, a complication of an infection that triggers inflammation throughout the body. She was surrounded by her family and friends.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Patty Duke had a net worth of $10 million at the time of her death. She left behind a legacy of acting excellence, mental health awareness, and humanitarian work. She was honored by many celebrities and fans on social media and received tributes from various organizations such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Screen Actors Guild, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Patty Duke will always be remembered as a talented actress who overcame many challenges in her life and used her fame to help others. She once said: “I’ve survived. I’ve beaten my own bad system and on some days my life is very enviable.”
