Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke

Patty Duke’s first major starring role was as Helen Keller in the
Broadway play The Miracle Worker, based on Helen Keller’s
autobiography The Story of My Life. The show, co-starring
Anne Bancroft and Patricia Neal, opened on October 19, 1959
and ran for nearly two years to July, 1962. Duke’s name was
placed above the title on the marquee midway through the
production run. The play was made into a film in 1962, for
which Duke received the Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress at the age of 16.