Patty Duke, Oscar-winning actress and mental health advocate, dies at 69
In 1963, Patty Duke was the youngest person to have won an Oscar. It was for her portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. After this, Duke cemented her place in pop-culture stardom with her role as twins in the sitcom The Patty Duke Show. But, it's Duke's role as a mental health advocate that many are celebrating tonight. Duke died Tuesday morning at the age of 69. A statement said the cause of death was sepsis from a ruptured intestine.
In 1987, the CBC's Vicki Gabereau spoke with Duke — whose real name is Anna Marie Pearce — about her autobiography Call Me Anna. In the book, Duke revealed the traumas she suffered in childhood and recounted her adult life with bipolar disorder. Take a listen to the full interview, from our archives.