Anne Bancroft was born on September 17, 1931 in the Bronx, New York and died on June 6, 2005. She was an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Tony, and Emmy-winning American method actress.

In 1952 she headed to Hollywood as a contract player, but returned to New York after a disappointing string of roles in low-budget movies. In 1958 she played opposite Henry Fonda in Two for the Seesaw and won her first Tony Award. The next year she won another Tony for her portrayal of Helen Keller's teacher, Annie Sullivan, in the play The Miracle Worker.

In 1960 she picked up her second Tony for The Miracle Worker, where her character taught a blind and deaf girl to communicate. It was subsequently made into a film where Bancroft went on to win an Oscar for her lead role together with a BAFTA for ‘Best Foreign Actress’ – Bancroft won this latter award again for The Pumpkin Eater (1964).

She won a Oscar for The Miracle Worker (1962). After that Bancroft was nominated for an Oscar four more times, for The Pumpkin Eater (1965), The Graduate, The Turning Point (1977) and Agnes of God (1985).

She also starred in The Elephant Man (1980) with Anthony Hopkins, 84 Charing Cross Road (1987) and G.I. Jane (1997).

Filmography

• The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (2003)
• Heartbreakers (2001)
• Haven (2001)
• Up at the Villa (2000)
• Keeping the Faith (2000)
• Deep in My Heart (1999)
• Antz (1998)
• Great Expectations (1998)
• Critical Care (1997)
• G.I. Jane (1997)
• The Sunchaser (1996)
• Homecoming (1996)
• Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
• Home for the Holidays (1995)
• How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
• "The Simpsons" (1 episode, 1994)
• "Great Performances" (1 episode, 1994)
• Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (1994)
• Mr. Jones (1993)
• Malice (1993)
• Point of No Return (1993)
• Love Potion No. 9 (1992)
• Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)
• Mrs. Cage (1992)
• Broadway Bound (1992)
• "Freddie and Max" (6 episodes, 1990)
• Bert Rigby, You're a Fool (1989)
• Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
• 84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
• 'night, Mother (1986)
• Agnes of God (1985)
• Garbo Talks (1984)
• To Be or Not to Be (1983)
• "Marco Polo" (1982)
• The Elephant Man (1980)
• Shogun (1980) (TV) (voice)
• Fatso (1980)
• The Turning Point (1977)
• "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977)
• Lipstick (1976)
• The Hindenburg (1975)
• The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975)
• Blazing Saddles (1974)
• Young Winston (1972)
• Annie, the Women in the Life of a Man (1970)
• "The Kraft Music Hall" (1 episode, 1969)
• The Graduate (1967)
• "ABC Stage 67" (1 episode, 1967)
• 7 Women (1966)
• The Slender Thread (1965)
• "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" (1 episode, 1964)
• The Pumpkin Eater (1964)
• The Miracle Worker (1962)
• "The Frank Sinatra Show" (1 episode, 1958)
• "Zane Grey Theater" (1 episode, 1957)
• The Girl in Black Stockings (1957)
• "The Alcoa Hour" (2 episodes, 1956-1957)
• The Restless Breed (1957)
• "Climax!" (2 episodes, 1956-1957)
• "Lux Video Theatre" (5 episodes, 1954-1957)
• "Playhouse 90" (2 episodes, 1957)
• Nightfall (1957)
• Walk the Proud Land (1956)
• The Last Frontier (1955)
• The Naked Street (1955)
• A Life in the Balance (1955)
• New York Confidential (1955)
• The Raid (1954)
• Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)
• Gorilla at Large (1954)
• "Kraft Television Theatre" (1 episode, 1953)
• "Omnibus" (1 episode, 1953)
• The Kid from Left Field (1953)
• Treasure of the Golden Condor (1953)
• Tonight We Sing (1953)
• Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
• "Lights Out" (1 episode, 1951)
• "Danger" (2 episodes, 1951)
• "The Adventures of Ellery Queen" (1 episode, 1951)
• "Studio One" (2 episodes, 1950-1951)
• "Suspense" (1 episode, 1951)

Awards

• Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie "Deep in My Heart" 1998 - 99
• American Comedy Award Lifetime Achievement (Female) 1996
• BAFTA Award Best Actress "84 Charing Cross Road" 1988
• Berlin Film Festival Best Actress Award "84 Charing Cross Road" 1988
• National Board of Review Award Best Actress "The Turning Point" 1977
• Emmy Outstanding Variety or Musical Program "Annie, The Women in the Life of a Man" 1969 - 70
• Golden Globe Award Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) "The Graduate" 1967
• British Film Academy Award Best Foreign Actress "The Pumpkin Eater" 1964
• Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award "The Pumpkin Eater" 1964
• Golden Globe Award Best Actress (Drama) "The Pumpkin Eater" 1964
• British Film Academy Award Best Foreign Actress "The Miracle Worker" 1962
• National Board of Review Award Best Actress "The Miracle Worker" 1962
• Oscar Best Actress "The Miracle Worker" 1962
• New York Drama Critics Award Best Performance by a Dramatic Actress "The Miracle Worker" 1960
• New York Philanthropic League Award "The Miracle Worker" 1960
• Tony Actress (Dramatic) "The Miracle Worker" 1960
• New York Drama Critics Award "Two for the Seesaw" 1958
• Theatre World Award "Two for the Seesaw" 1958
• Tony Actress, Supporting or Featured (Dramatic) "Two for the Seesaw" 1958