Fans of The Patty Duke Show are used to seeing double. For three seasons from 1963 to 1967, Patty Duke played identical twin cousins in the popular TV show. Duke, who at the time was the youngest person to win an Academy Award, used the show as a launching pad for her successful career in show business, which included becoming a hit singer. Through her storied career, Duke won an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Duke’s journey in Hollywood started when she was just a child, with appearances on the soap opera The Brighter Day and a controversial win on the game show The $64,000 Question. Despite the controversies, her rise to stardom continued. She made her mark by portraying Helen Keller in the Broadway play The Miracle Worker, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress at the age of 16. Reflecting on her role, Duke said, “I had 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’s talent caught the attention of legendary actors Laurence Olivier and George C. Scott, who cast her in a TV adaptation of The Power and the Glory. But it was Sidney Sheldon, creator of I Dream of Jeannie, who really saw Duke’s potential and created a show named after her. The Patty Duke Show featured paternal twin cousins Patty and Kathy Lane, and later added another character, Betsy, also played by Duke. The show was a wholesome family sitcom that Duke fondly remembered, saying, “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.”
While Duke hadn’t been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the time, Sheldon created the twin roles after recognizing her distinct personalities. After being diagnosed, Duke became a champion for mental health, openly sharing her story and challenging internal shame. She used her platform to help others and founded The Patty Duke Mental Health Initiative.
Duke’s legacy lives on through her son, actor Sean Astin, who joined her in raising awareness for mental health and founded The Patty Duke Mental Health Initiative. Astin is known for his roles in Hollywood hits like The Goonies, Rudy, and Stranger Things. In the epic The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, he played Samwise Gamgee, and his real-life daughter Ali Astin portrayed his on-screen daughter, Eleanor Gamgee, in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Ali, who recently graduated from Harvard, is following in her family’s footsteps and has become an actor making waves in the industry. She bears a striking resemblance to her grandmother, Patty Duke, who continues to be remembered for her timeless beauty.
Ali often pays tribute to her “nana” on social media, sharing side-by-side photos and heartfelt messages. Patty Duke’s fans are quick to recognize the resemblance and express their admiration for both Duke and Ali.
As a little girl in the ’60s, Patty Duke was an inspiration to many, including myself. Her talent and outspokenness left a lasting impact. It’s heartwarming to see how her spirit lives on in her children and grandchildren. If you agree, share this article on Facebook.
