Patty Duke Has Passed Away

It was announced here yesterday when it happened, but she deserves a full write up. Oscar-winning actress Patty Duke passed away at the age of 69 from complications of a ruptured intestine. At the age of 12, she starred as Helen Keller on Broadway in the original production of The Miracle Worker with Anne Bancroft. Three years later, she reprised her role onscreen, and won an Academy Award for best supporting actress. The following year, The Patty Duke show arrived on ABC, and aired for the next four years. In addition to acting, she was an advocate for mental health, after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. On her website, she is quoted as follows: "I've survived. I've beaten my own bad system and on some days, on most days, that feels like a miracle."

She is survived by husband Michael Pearce, brother Raymond, sons Sean Astin, Mackenzie Astin, and Kevin Pearce, stepdaughter Charlene Gibson, and six grandchildren. Her family released the following statement: "This morning, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, matriarch and the exquisite artist, humanitarian, and champion for mental health, Anna PATTY DUKE Pearce, closed her eyes, quieted her pain and ascended to a beautiful place. We celebrate the infinite love and compassion she shared through her work and throughout her life. Her work endures..." Read her full obituary at the New York Times.

Son Sean Astin has set up a Crowdrise Page to establish the Patty Duke Mental Health Project: "Before her passing, before the suffering became too great, we talked about how the core mission of her mental health work might continue beyond her life. This initiative will fuel a multi-level approach to achieving results for those suffering with mental illness, and for their families and communities. Public awareness campaigns, lobbying efforts, and supporting a multitude of mental health programs big and small will be organized, prioritized and vigorously pursued. The funds raised here will establish the Patty Duke Mental Health Initiative: the legal expenses, the formation of a board of directors, the establishing of a location, the hiring of an experienced executive director to manage professional fundraising, initial staffing and all of the costs associated with launching an endeavor of this sort." Visit the Crowdrise page here.