Beloved actress Patty Duke was just 16 when she won an Oscar for playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. Then she went on to charm audiences portraying twin cousins in The Patty Duke Show. Today she died at 69. “This morning, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, matriarch and the exquisite artist, humanitarian, and champion for mental health, Anna ‘Patty Duke’ Pearce, closed her eyes, quieted her pain and ascended to a beautiful place,” wrote Patty Duke’s son Sean Astin on his Facebook page. “We celebrate the infinite love and compassion she shared through her work and throughout her life.”
Celebrities turned immediately to social media to honor Patty Duke.
@pattyduke_id all my love to you. Why are my heroes all dying? #RIPPattyDuke #Anna
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) March 29, 2016
Very saddened on the passing of Patty Duke. She was a wonderful friend on Twitter. Condolences to her family.
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) March 29, 2016
Brave, outspoken & humanitarian who played Helen Keller in "Miracle Worker," Oscar winner Patty Duke passed. I will miss her. RIP.
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) March 29, 2016
Patty Duke has died. Thank you for sharing your talent with us for all these years. #neelyoharaforever pic.twitter.com/sCrArGVbT1
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) March 29, 2016
This morning Anna Pearce @pattyduke_id closed her eyes & ascended to a beautiful placehttps://t.co/zRLw7hKa87 pic.twitter.com/a7FK6zbtpc
— Sean Astin (@SeanAstin) March 29, 2016
RIP, kid. you made a lot of smiles.
Patty Duke Show Intro https://t.co/4Sp5uPyULK
— Game of Thornes (@GeoffThorne) March 29, 2016
Such a sad passing of Patty Duke, way too young, such a long career of impressive work and service. RIP
— Willie Garson (@WillieGarson) March 29, 2016
View the original at Parade or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Google+I will miss you #PattyDuke you're legend to many! Heartbroken RIP
— Jane Beuyukian (@shanydog) March 29, 2016