Actress Patty Duke, who won an Oscar for playing a deaf-blind political activist Helen Keller in ‘The Miracle Worker,’ has passed away at the age of 69.
In a statement, her son Sean Astin said “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,” Channel, 24 reports.
He continued that they celebrated the infinite love and compassion she had shared through her work and throughout her life. Her work endures.
“My mother’s life touched tens of millions of people. Her groundbreaking portrayal of iconic American legend Helen Keller launched a career that would span six decades,” said Astin.
According to sources, Patty’s manager said she died of sepsis from a ruptured intestine.
Patty, who is known for movies like the ‘Valley of the Dolls’, ‘Me, Natalie, had won three Emmy Awards, including for the series ‘Captains and Kings’ and television movie ‘My Sweet Charlie’.
