At the time she won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar, she was the youngest person ever to win an Oscar in a competitive category. (Years later, Tatum O'Neal became the youngest person to win a competitive Academy Awards at the age of 10).

She won an Oscar for playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962), making her one of eleven 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 Bradlee in All the President's Men (1976); Robert De Niro for playing Jake La Motta in Raging Bull (1980); Sissy Spacek for playing Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter (1980); Susan Sarandon for playing Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking (1995); Geoffrey Rush for playing David Helfgott in Shine (1996); Julia Roberts for playing Erin Brockovich in Erin Brockovich (2000); Jim Broadbent for playing John Bayley in Iris (2001/I); and most recently Helen Mirren for playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006).

Dated Desi Arnaz Jr.

Born in New York

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).

Early in her career, she won the top prize on the "The $64,000 Question" (1955) game show.

Spoke at the memorial service for her beloved friend and mentor, Miss Anne Bancroft, in June 2005.

Parents are Frances and John Patrick Duke; her father was an alcoholic and left the family when Patty was very young.

Underwent single bypass heart surgery on November 3, 2004 at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d`Alene, Idaho.

Sister of Ray Duke and Carol Duke. Patty is the youngest of the three.

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).

Won the Theatre World Award for Best Debut Performance for the 1959-60 Broadway season. She was awarded this honor for her performance as Helen Keller in the stage version of "The Miracle Worker."

Grandmother of actress Alexandra Astin and Elizabeth Louise Astin.

Has a gold record, 1965`s "Please, Just Don`t Stand There" in addition to her acting awards.

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.

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.

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)).

Born at 10:39 PM EST

President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG). [1985-1988]

Mother of actors Sean Astin and Mackenzie Astin

Son, with Pearce, Kevin born. [1988]

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"

Married 4 times.