Patty Duke's Stunning Granddaughter Looks Like Her Twin

Dec 27, 2023 by apost team

Patty Duke, born Anna Marie Duke on December 14, 1946, was an American actress and singer whose career spanned over six decades. She rose to fame as a child star and went on to achieve success in both film and television.

Duke's early life was marked by challenges, including a difficult relationship with her parents and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Despite these obstacles, she found solace and an outlet for her talent in acting. At the age of 12, she gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" on Broadway, a role she later reprised in the 1962 film adaptation. This performance earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the youngest Oscar winner at the time.

Throughout the 1960s, Duke continued to make a significant impact on the entertainment industry. She starred in the popular sitcom "The Patty Duke Show," where she played identical cousins, Patty Lane and Cathy Lane. The show ran from 1963 to 1966 and showcased Duke's incredible range and versatility as an actress. 

In addition to her television success, Duke remained active in films during the 1960s, starring in movies such as "Valley of the Dolls" in 1967. Her ability to portray a wide range of characters solidified her status as one of Hollywood's leading actresses.

Sadly, Duke passed away in 2016 and left an indelible mark in Hollywood. Her granddaughter, Ali Astin, continues to remember her through tributes. Read on to learn more about Duke and how her look-alike granddaughter commemorates her.

Duke's Hollywood journey took off when she gained widespread recognition for her breakthrough role as Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" on Broadway at the age of 12. Her stellar performance in the play caught the attention of Hollywood, leading to her reprisal of the role in the 1962 film adaptation, for which she won an Academy Award at just 16 years old.

”I had many, many, many fears and obsessive fears as a young person, and maybe I was incorporating them into that role. And I do know for a fact that the role was very therapeutic for me…” Duke told NPR in an interview. 

After “The Miracle Worker,” Duke starred in the TV adaptation of “The Power and the Glory.” Her role in the series sparked the interest of Sidney Sheldon, which led to her becoming the star of her own show, “The Patty Duke Show.” 

She played the difficult role of playing paternal twin cousins, and eventually, they became triples – all played by Duke. 

”For its genre, it was quite a lovely little show. And they were nice people, and they weren’t saying nasty, hideous things to each other all the time. And I kind of miss that element of a family show,” Duke recalled. 

In 1982, Duke was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, becoming one of the first celebrities to have spoken about mental illness in the media. She also suffered from anorexia nervosa and even attempted suicide multiple times before her diagnosis.

Because of this, Duke became a passionate advocate for mental health. In 2016, Duke died from sepsis after her intestine ruptured at the age of 69. She was survived by her only son, actor Sean Astin, who helped maintain the Patty Duke Mental Health Initiative. 

apost.com

Sean is an American actor best known for his role as Samwise Gamgee in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. When he was 13 years old, Sean made his official film debut with the role of Mikey in the 1985 film “The Goonies.” The adventure comedy film became a cult classic based on a story by Steven Spielberg. 

In December 2017, what was supposed to be Duke's 71st birthday, Sean’s daughter, Ali remembered her grandmother’s legacy by posting a spine-chilling side-by-side photo of her and her grandmother.

“This is the last text my nana ever sent me, I had just gotten my first big review: "Ali dear, Pops and I are so proud of you. Congrats on your rave review. Wish we could have seen you. We're not surprised that you did so well. We think of you all the time. We love and miss you a ton" #pattyduke,” Ali wrote in the caption. 

The photo showed a portrait of Duke’s when she was still young and a current photo of Ali at the time. 

Fans noticed their striking similarities, with one saying, “You look so much like her! Beautiful.” 

“You look so much like her!! Loved Patty!” another commented. 

“@ali_astin I see her so much in you, that fierce warrior spirit with a hint of mischief! She would be yelling from the rooftops all about your incredible successes, were she here. She sounds like she had faith in you all along, dear one. We will hold space for her, and celebrate you in her stead. Hugs!” a fan wrote. 

Ali has also starred in various films like “Bad Kids of Crestview Academy” in 2016 and “Apocalypse Society” in 2017 and regularly posts on her Instagram account showing off the artistry she inherited from her father and grandmother. 

Are you a fan of Patty Duke? What can you say about her struggles in life? Do you think she looked like her granddaughter Ali Astin? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other Patty Duke fans out there!