Patty Duke left a enduring legacy when she passed away in March 2016. IMDb states that she won three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, an Academy Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
When she accepted her prize for the show’s movie adaptation, she surpassed the previous mark for the youngest Academy Award winner. She was also the youngest person whose name appeared above the marquee for the Broadway production of The Miracle Worker.
Duke’s battles with mental illness are almost as well known as her extraordinary acting abilities and achievements. The Los Angeles Times reports that after receiving a bipolar disorder diagnosis in 1982, she was among the first well-known figures to openly discuss mental health issues.
These subjects, as well as others, were covered in her published autobiography Call Me Anna in 1987. In 1990, Duke admitted through the Los Angeles Times, “I was terrified as I wrote the book. You worry that if you reveal that you have a mental illness, people will find you odd and unfit for employment.
Sean Astin, who is well-known for his work in The Goonies, The Lord of the Rings, and Stranger Things, is the son of Duke and has made it his mission to continue his mother’s efforts to raise awareness of mental illness.
The Patty Duke Mental Health Initiative was established by him, according to the Los Angeles Times, through a crowdfunding campaign. He is not, however, the only member of the family continuing Duke’s legacy in the entertainment industry.
Patty Duke was a trailblazer in Hollywood who spent many years fighting for issues related to mental health. It’s not surprising that some of her children entered the industry given her enormous success in theater, television, and film.
Sean Astin and Mackenzie Astin, two of Duke Astin’s kids, both went on to become actors. Sean had a ton of success as a young actor after being chosen for the lead role in the 1985 action movie The Goonies. Later on, he appeared in a number of films and TV shows, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the critically acclaimed Stranger Things.
Due to her prominent role in The Facts of Life and numerous guest appearances on shows like Lost, House, Psych, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and NCIS, Mackenzie quickly rose to fame.
A professional actress in Hollywood who co-starred with her father in The Lord of the Rings, Alexandria Astin (pictured on the left), also caught the acting bug.
It’s well known that Alexandria and her famous grandma, who goes by the name “Ali,” are similar. These two are exact duplicates, down to their smiles and eyes!
