Patty Duke winning Best Supporting Actress

George Chakiris presenting Patty Duke with the Oscar® for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "The Miracle Worker" at the 35th Academy Awards® in 1963. Introduced by Frank Sinatra.

[@randyking3057]

Now there's someone who knows how to accept an award!

[@ellierfromthebronx4531]

Yup...she just cut to the chase and merely said "Thank you!"

[@brauliogomez6416]

It was the most emotional honest ''thank you'' I ever seen

[@stillmatic880]

Braulio Gomez I was thinking the same thing. Those were the most sincere 2 words I've ever heard.

[@thebranchanthony]

stillmatic880 that was the most sincere thank you

[@rachelfox8359]

I definitely agree!

[@eirikastokes9652]

And her eyes as she said it! It was truly the most sincere thing I've ever seen.

[@mdaddy775]

100%

[@mariakal605]

She said a million things with just those two words.

[@pattyamato8758]

Just as Helen said with no words

[@vaar2742]

Anne and Patty both deserved their awards that night for outstanding performances, two of the mos powerful I have ever seen from any actress.

[@jasonmerrin4505]

One of the most well deserved Oscar wins in Oscar history.

[@ChrolliForever]

Sure, but she was Co.-LEAD, imo.

[@jasonmerrin4505]

@@ChrolliForever I totally agree.

[@ChrolliForever]

I understand, that the studio want that bancroft and Duke won Oscar's, but was that fair to the other nominees? But both were Oscar worthy and well deserved.

[@jasonmerrin4505]

@@ChrolliForever At least the Emmys got the nomination placements correct in 1979 when they nominated both Patty and Melissa Gilbert in Lead Actress for " The Miracle Worker ". However Melissa didn't stand a chance against Patty's bravura performance. In fact, no actress in her category that year did.

[@jamesmonroe7751]

@@ChrolliForever they could have easily switched categories AND STILL WON! That's how perfect they were.

[@raea3588]

Her tears, the most sincere "Thank you." I've ever heard and the way she's holding that Oscar close as if she's saying to herself "They're giving this to me. I earned it. No one can take this away!" speaks volumes of sweet sorrow about her childhood.

[@multifandombish1855]

What happend to her??

[@CEOofSleep]

???

[@mastertemple8369]

Joan Crawford and Gregory Peck told her that night she was Brilliant...

[@raea3588]

And she was

[@raea3588]

She was being abused mentally, emotionally and sexually by her agents who she unfortunately also lived with. She also had, what was know back then as, Manic Depressive Illness (Bipolar Disorder)but as an older adult, Anna Marie Patty Duke overcame all of that through help and lived a happy life as an advocate, actress, wife and mother

[@madeleinehague648]

Well...she deserved the Oscar, but what heavy competition! RIP, Patty.

[@thespy7795]

VERY heavy competition. Great Films and Competition All.

[@gwenmarie7311]

I did not know she passed away. What Year?

[@meritofapproval]

Gwen Marie March, 2016.

[@jeffersonborges9932]

I just watched The Miracle Worker and God! What was that? Just amazing. One of the most deserved wins in the Best Supporting Actress category. Acting at its best. Patty as Helen Keller is probably one of the best performances I have ever seen. Really. Anne Bancroft was perfect in the movie too.

[@tapthatt2012]

Just watched it.

[@jamesmonroe7751]

The greatest performance by far by a teen.

[@jamesmonroe7751]

@lucy bond whenever I think of Anna or Anne I think of the dining room scene. It made me. Millions of men and Mel brooks fall in love with Annie even more! To live in her truth (she was going blind when helping helen) speaks volumes!

[@hak4890]

It is an incredible, magnificent film.

[@loyciecasey5944]

I absolutely agree with you I cannot believe she was only 15 her performance was flawless

[@MrsKiarara94]

Utterly deserved! She was sensational in the movie!!

[@Autostade67]

A couple of things: George Chakiris. The man is his own adjective. That voice... And Ms. Duke - a deserving winner - and no small feat - this was one of those years where any one of the performances was worthy.

[@ellielouise8204]

More emotion in her two words than some of the unnecessarily long speeches celebrities give today.

[@jamesmonroe7751]

THE single greatest performance by a teenager ever! Anne was great but Anna was the whole show! No wonder she had her own TV series! Brava!

[@soulwinnerism]

The way she said "thank you" was so cute and sweet, bless her heart. She has always been my favorite actress of all time.

[@bman560]

All five performances were stellar. I wish the Academy would reveal the actual voting numbers one day. In 1962, all the acting categories had performances that deserved winning.

[@MotownConnoisseur30]

Angela Lansbury's performance in The Manchurian Candidate was brilliant, powerful, and terrifying. She absolutely deserved the Oscar for that performance. It's a shame it was in the same year as Patty Duke's equally brilliant performance. Had it been any other year, Lansbury would have won. Too bad they didn't have a tie.

[@claudiaholmes2653]

I absolutely agree, Angela should have won,

[@jamesfeldman4234]

I've owned DVDs of both The Miracle Worker and The Manchurian Candidate, and have seen each picture dozens of times, as I consider each to be a cinema masterpiece. The performances of Patty Duke and Angela Lansbury were magnificent and it's impossible to say one performance was better than the other. However, there's a rule in Hollywood that applies here that was already well-established by 1963 and continues to this day. If a performer is up for an Oscar and the role involves a physical or mental disability or impairment, that performer wins out. Once I saw the pattern personally many long years ago, I've been able to accurately predict every Oscar since where this factor came into play. The rule is that solid.

[@Cardsam]

I'd go a step further: there was a third brilliant performance that year in the Supporting Actress category: Mary Badham as Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird. To my mind, it was the best movie performance by a child ever. Uncannily real, without a hint of artifice. I guess a three way tie would have been too much to hope for, though.

[@infonut]

@@Cardsam ... wrong. You are confusing the character with the performance. There are many flaws that are overlooked. You can see her repeating other peoples lines more than once.

[@hazeleyesChicago]

Probably the most sincere and shortest Oscar winning speeches of all times. She may have been really nervous. Not easy to speak in front of a huge audience.

[@annefan73]

hazeleyesChicago her agents wouldn’t let her say anything else, she was instructed to just say “ thank you”. But it seemed perfect anyway

[@m.e.d.7997]

And she was on the verge of full crying tears! So full of emotion.

[@christhorton6512]

Beautiful, emotional, simple, and short.

[@moorek1967]

Patty Duke played the role on Broadway since she was 11 until the movie was made. It was released when she was 15 and she won the Oscar when she was 16, so people were familiar with her as Helen Keller since she was 11. She spent two years preparing for the role on stage. So, in essence, she had spent 6 years perfecting it before it she won the Oscar.

[@alisky8551]

her expression when she says "thank you".....I've never seen anyone means it like she did!

[@derf66]

Regarding Patty's short "Thank you", in her autobiography, "Call Me Anna", Patty Duke had asked her domineering managers, John and Ethel Ross, what she should have said if she won. They told her to just say "thank you" and nothing more. Patty asked if she should've thanked director Arthur Penn and producer Fred Coe, but they told her not to - just "thank you". You can actually catch a quick glimpse of the Rosses the second Patty got up and passed them to get her award.

[@stephanieflynn8943]

She was brilliant in this movie, absolutely brilliant.

[@StGeoRUSH619]

Short, sweet, emotional and honest... Best simple "Thank You" ever.

[@rahulgope5991]

I got a chill through my spine when she said thank you.. ufff those 2 words were like thousand words.

[@jwelch5742]

Patty Duke has great acting in The Miracle Worker.

[@renan.csmaia]

Angela Lansbury's performance is one of the most iconic in movie history!!

[@AbbaLeStrange]

Patty deserved this award fair and square, get over it landsbury fans.

[@lizturner267]

On the screen for every scene, only one word spoken, a teenager yet still one of the all time best performances any actor could accomplish.

[@dannyfrageorgiajr7485]

Rest in Peace Patty Duke.

[@AxelQC]

RIP Sweet Patty Duke!

[@yosemite2405]

+AxelQC Wonder why they are playing the mockingbird song in the background.

[@jenniferhiemstra5228]

+ProBoard Bear if you've seen the movie or know the play at all, it's written in the script. Annie sings it to herself with a doll in hand after she's finally gotten Helen to bed one day.

[@yosemite2405]

I thought that it was a mistake because of the other movie nomination was To kill a mockingbird.

[@andreacarlamichaels1]

+ProBoard Bear me too!

[@actormanic]

+ProBoard Bear It wasn't an award for Best Picture, it was for Best Supporting Actress. I myself think Mockingbird was a better film all around. but the Academy got this one right. Not taking anything away from Mary Badham, who was perfect for her role, but Patty's role was a much bigger challenge for an actor, and she nailed it BIG TIME. It was just more deserving of that particular award, that's all. BTW, Angela Lansbury (The Manchurian Candidate) would have been my second choice. p.s. Gregory Peck did win for Mockingbird, and it was his performance that really drove that film.

[@jacktwist5907]

God Bless you Patty. We will never forget you, and what you have brought into the world. You have a wonderful son too. May you be in peace. Again, bless you,

[@marlossantana4044]

"My my, an oscar winner at 17!" "The only way to go is down" Joan Crawford to Patty Duke in Feud.

[@ОрисяЯрмолюк-б4ш]

Patty was 16 when she won the Academy Award and there is no account of Joan Crawford saying this line from Feud to her.

[@jaengen]

How Joan Crawford of her.

[@bbender3113]

WHY SHE WON.......the Legend of Patty Duke.......when she played Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" on Broadway with Anne Bancroft .........While in character [deaf and blind] some tremendously heavy spot lights came crashing down behind Patty and Anne startling EVERYONE BUT PATTY. To have maintained that acting concentration during an accident is incredible but true.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

She looks gorgeous and I long for sweet short speeches like this!

[@dianneborrelli1056]

Wednesday was always,Patty Duke day.my pre teens were times I care not to remember.i will always remember,Anna ,and how I was invited into her world.thankyou Anna.Rest peacefully, shine.

[@petermcdonald1744]

Patty Duke, in her very personal interviews, and activism, did so much to focus attention on mental health. I have been enjoying her sharp, quick mind, and humor, on various vintage game shows. One of the best "Password" guest players ever!

[@hughdismuke4703]

What a wonderful woman she was. I had the pleasure of meeting her once at an event and she was very kind and seemed very sincere. She told of how hard it was being in Hollywood under the difficult conditions she was having with mental health, which probably explains why she wasn't in a lot more full featured films. I just watched The Miracle Worker, I was mesmerized watching her as a young lady. What a remarkable performance! Her and Bancroft worked extremely well together. I was very saddened to hear of her passing.

[@crazylegskc]

Best way to accept an award! You don't bore anybody by rambling on forever, and by not naming any names, you don't risk slighting anyone by accidentally forgetting to name them. Short and sweet!

[@killbill2241]

I've seen both. Both women were great, no point in comparing because they are completely different roles. For me, it's not about who is better, but if the winner or nominees deserve it. They both deserved the nomination, and when Duke won, she deserved it.

[@nocilantro_gack]

I loved Patty Duke..so sad she died

[@calchick82]

Even if she couldn't thank anybody, at least she had the opportunity to NOT say anything about the Rosses. Apparently she sat between them at the Oscars; did you notice how when they called her name, she didn't acknowledge them at all with a hug or anything? She just stood straight up & walked to the stage. Good!

[@michelegreene2905]

Love Patty in this movie. She was sensansional.

[@brigittemaier6565]

Patty duke was a child acting prodigies. Her performance in the Miracle Worker is magical and astounding. It did not hurt her that Arthur Penn directed one of the most beautiful and poignant movie ever made. It was a great vehicle to showcase her immense talent. Also, how adorable is it that she took her little dog to her first academy award ceremony!

[@Rankutubuki88]

George Chakiris is handsome👍

[@deafman16365]

You should be happy that Angela Lansbury won Honorary Oscar few year ago! So get over it! Patty Duke deserved Oscar as Helen Keller and I'm deaf and proud! She give wonderful performances!

[@josephkearny5874]

Angela's performance is classic and so was Patty's; a tough decision, but no one can say she didn't deserve it nor can I say Davis was robbed; Bancroft deserve it as well. The Academy loves to honor prestige; an acclaimed play based on an inspiring true story vs a campy horror film.

[@jamesmonroe7751]

Lansbury should have won over Barrymore. She wasn't going to win over Revere. That's sacrilege! Winning the Oscar over your own mother? I won't hear of it!

[@AfraidofHeights]

One of the most deserving wins ever.

[@edwardanthony7283]

Well deserved & Angela is still with us in 2021.

[@doloreshuntoon7698]

Thank you, dear sweet Patti Duke, thank you! May you rest in peace.

[@dustinhall669]

Mary Badham and Patty Duke in the same category. Two children in company with such heavy hitters. I love that.

[@zzzzz87]

Lansbury was chilling, but Patty Duke was stunning in a difficult role that was most certainly supporting to Anne Bancroft's excellent performance.

[@picturefan2009]

Angela Lansbury who was considered a shoo-in to win the award before the ceremony, so should've won that year. As good as Patty Duke was, Lansbury delivered one of the greatest female performances in a film history as a evil Mrs. Eleanor Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate. One can only imagine her disappointment that night.

[@steeplepossum39]

Patty Duke is good in every movie I have seen her in.

[@Jazzper79]

One of the best movies I have ever seen. Beautiful performance.

[@itsgleneaton4883]

When you win against such brilliant performances and talents I could understand why they were so emotional.

[@stephaniestanley8041]

This is what this country is founded on: achievement, success, personal accomplishment. A few years prior to that night, could she have dreamed of this.

[@mallorybesom1717]

She was a picture worth a thousand words.

[@bronxbearbud272]

This would have been a lot more touching if Joan Crawford was up there crying and accepting the award on her behalf

[@DanRobSo]

RIP Patty. Very sad day.

[@violettbellerose1173]

Rest in piece, good Patty

[@laeleven]

Such a talent! One would never guess the life Anna "Patty" Duke had to endure behind that smile.

[@geezloueeze]

RIP sweet angel of my youth. I remember this night, so well. I was so excited when she won. Thank you for your courage and bravery, Anna. God bless, and may the positive attributes of your legacy live on and endure through time.

[@windstorm1000]

+geezloueeze great tribute--thanks

[@lumberjack297]

She earned that award for sure

[@HermeticDisorder]

What brought me here was watching a video here on KZbin wherein she tells of that (this) night and why it was bitter sweet for her. Put simply, she was wearing half a dress and her mother wasn't allowed to attend (reasons unknown). Having said this, her role in The Miracle Worker was worthy of all the recognition she received. An excellent characterization from a brilliant and charming actor. (Can you feel the crush? :D **laughs**)

[@TheGreekPianist]

All she could say was thank you? She did a phenomenal, convincing job in the movie and she deserved to have a big and inspirational speech!

[@AbbaLeStrange]

yeah well her abusive managers told her to keep it short, and she did exactly what they told her to.

[@TheGreekPianist]

That's horrible!!!

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

Yes, her managers (a married couple) were her de facto parents and were terrible people. Patty Duke had a horrible, abusive childhood despite being a successful child actress.

[@derf66]

What's interesting in this clip is that in that one second as you see Patty Duke getting up to get her Oscar, she passes by John and Ethel Ross, the managers she wrote so candidly about in her book "Call Me Anna".

[@gatewayski1]

Someone had to win and I'm glad it was Patty/

[@LPJack02]

RIP Patty Duke (December 14, 1946 - March 29, 2016), aged 69 You will always be remembered as a legend.

[@nickpoff1739]

Read Miss Duke's autobiography "Call Me Anna." THANK YOU was all that the Rosses would allow her to say.

[@Giselle_Glam594]

Patti Duke did an incredibly shocking & fascinating portrayal in the "miracle worker" OMG! OMG! Yes she deserved that Oscar🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@cinderallagotnoshoes2139]

rest easy you were wonderful

[@WARDMAN3]

A move everyone should see. She, hands down, deserved that Oscar without a nanosecond of thought.. There are certain roles that go down in history that transcend most others. This is one of them.

[@jeprice08]

I think I must warn you that this comment is not about her acting ability (as great as it is), but about her appearance at the ceremony. This is what I thought of it (after seeing it for the first time and then thinking about it afterwards): 0:38 - 0:44 One word: “YOW!” 1:40 - 1:47 That’s real beauty right there, when she cries! It’s almost as if you can run this thing in slow-motion, put in soft, romantic music in the background (You don’t even need to hear her say “Thank you.”), and think, “She’s the one for me!” That’s how beautiful she was…to me. Now, before I close, I’m sure that some of you will think I’m a fruitcake for being this honest and yes, I know she’s married and has children, but I’m saying all this based on what I see HERE on the video and what I see here is very young and very gorgeous Patty Duke. I know she’s nearing 70 now and I respect what she has done and I love her for that, but I’m not speaking of “her” (that’s not how I feel about the “2016” her), I’m speaking of “her” (the Patty Duke in black and white, wearing the gown and holding the Oscar, THAT her, the “1963” her). You see? Have a nice day!

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

No judgments here, Jacqueline.

[@kenrupple9085]

If others read her autobiography, they would know that you're correct. She was very upset. her mother stole the dress that she was going to wear. Patty said that her mother was very self-centered and didn't consider Patty's feelings. Patty said, that her undiagnosed depression (which was later bipolar I) had her extreme emotional. Those tears weren't tears of joy, they were tears of hurt and pain of her life. Everyone, especially ones who have mental health issues or know someone, should read her book.

[@fran_1978]

Very well deserved. Patty Duke was SUPERB, BRILLIANT in "The Miracle Worker"!

[@dldee912]

This november, finally, Angela Lansbury will receive her honorary Oscar. I'm so glad for this. Patty Duke was really great and deserving in "The miracle worker", but she had a leading role (IMO)......Patty and A.Bancroft were both protagonist........for me Lansbury should have won best supporting actress that year. Anyway Lansbury deserves an honoray award for her incredible film career. (THANK YOU, Academy!!!)

[@FactBuffet]

Her speech was shorter than her name!

[@billfisher9238]

one of those incredibly hard choices by the Academy. similar to the Bette Davis/Gloria Swanson choice (neither won) in 1950. both Duke and Lansbury were perfect.

[@badmoon310]

That scene with her and Bancroft fighting over the spoons was as violent as any I’ve seen in any movie. It was so well done I felt like they were really hating each other.

[@Muttonchop_USA]

Can you imagine that they did it for eight performances a week on Broadway?

[@lindaziella3212]

Humble and so deserved.

[@Northisbest]

THANK YOU - YOU NAIL IT. BRAVO

[@benwass5209]

r.i.p.

[@picturefan2009]

Duke was the right choice, because you never heard of The Manchurian Candidate? With due respect this is a very flowed logic. As for Miracle Worker being a classic, The Manchurian Candidate is every bit of a classic. That film was placed at #67 at the AFI’s list of Greatest American films of all time (with Lansbury’s performance being named the greatest villain turn of all time at #21) and is currently at #187 in the IMDb’s Top 250.

[@gatewayski1]

MISS DUKE WAS THE SOLID CHOICE.

[@gatewayski1]

Patty Duke won fair and square.

[@TennesseeMelanie]

I will say what I said on Ann Bancroft's win video--MAN, what a heavy hitting list of nominees!

[@jamesvv]

What a great clip!I love Patty and she deserved it!!

[@ad8554]

Wow Sean Astin really does resemble his mother. Good genes

[@TheIndependentLens]

Best Oscar Speech of all time. Just say thanks and gtf off the stage!

[@WakandaBabe]

Phenomenal movie with stellar performances.

[@maryanneevans9563]

That's how acceptance speeches should be!

[@joypowers563]

No political speeches. Just pure rewarding entertainment

[@Santy960529]

She was Terrific in this picture!

[@exbronco]

Angela Lansbury had a very serious look on her face.

[@rkappra]

Now that speech was the perfect length!

[@TreClaire]

I can not believe how next level short these speeches used to be, holy shit. What a blessing.

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

The longest Oscar speech was given by Greer Garson at the 15th Academy Awards, after she was named Best Actress for MRS. MINIVER (1942). Her speech ran for nearly six minutes -- or about the same amount of screen time Beatrice Straight had in NETWORK (1976), the shortest performance to win an Oscar!

[@trilby5546]

A tony and an oscar 4 this role.

[@windstorm1000]

Great actress and humanist--she will be missed.

[@ura239]

Shes so beautiful! ....

[@readycarlos]

The commenter was referring to the other nominee, Mary Badham who played Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird". The comment was made about the Mockingbird song being played when Patty Duke was accepting her Oscar. The Mockingbird song was actually sung in "The Miracle Worker". Mary was 10 at the time, Patty was 15. All clear now?

[@Jim382]

@stickstr8up That song is featured in "The Miracle Worker," not "To Kill A Mockingbird." All in all, what an incredible year for movies!

[@1zelcat]

What an ovation.

[@MikeysGayToday]

BRAVO! How can ANYONE not know who Angela Lansbury is. SHe Needs an Emmy. STAT!