AB
Anne Bancroft
Actor, Director, Writer
Born September 17, 1931Died June 6, 2005 (73 years)
Anne Bancroft (born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano; September 17, 1931 – June 6, 2005) was an American actress. Respected for her acting prowess and versatility, Bancroft received an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Cannes Film Festival Award. She is one of only 24 thespians to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting.
Bancroft was born Anna Maria Louisa (or Luisa) Italiano on September 17, 1931, in the Bronx, New York City, the middle of three daughters of Mildred (née Di Napoli), a telephone operator, and Michael G. Italiano, a dress pattern maker. Both of her parents' surnames were toponymic. Her parents were Italian immigrants from Southern Italy. In an interview, she stated that her family was originally from Muro Lucano, in the province of Potenza. She was raised in the Roman Catholic faith. Bancroft was raised in Little Italy, in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx, attended P.S. 12, later moving to 1580 Zerega Ave.
Bancroft's Broadway debut in the two-character drama Two for the Seesaw (1958), brought her wide recognition for the depth of her talent and garnered her a Tony Award for best supporting actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker (1962), and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate (1967).
Bancroft continued to have a successful career in film and television. She starred in a number of other films, including The Elephant Man (1980), 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), and Agnes of God (1985), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She also had a recurring role on the television series Modern Family.
Bancroft was married to director Mel Brooks from 1964 until her death in 2005. They had one son, Max Brooks.
Bancroft was born Anna Maria Louisa (or Luisa) Italiano on September 17, 1931, in the Bronx, New York City, the middle of three daughters of Mildred (née Di Napoli), a telephone operator, and Michael G. Italiano, a dress pattern maker. Both of her parents' surnames were toponymic. Her parents were Italian immigrants from Southern Italy. In an interview, she stated that her family was originally from Muro Lucano, in the province of Potenza. She was raised in the Roman Catholic faith. Bancroft was raised in Little Italy, in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx, attended P.S. 12, later moving to 1580 Zerega Ave.
Bancroft's Broadway debut in the two-character drama Two for the Seesaw (1958), brought her wide recognition for the depth of her talent and garnered her a Tony Award for best supporting actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker (1962), and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate (1967).
Bancroft continued to have a successful career in film and television. She starred in a number of other films, including The Elephant Man (1980), 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), and Agnes of God (1985), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She also had a recurring role on the television series Modern Family.
Bancroft was married to director Mel Brooks from 1964 until her death in 2005. They had one son, Max Brooks.
Known For
Featured Videos
Filmography
| 2018 | Hollywood, No Sex Please! · as Mrs. Robinson |
| 2016 | Becoming Mike Nichols · as Mrs. Robinson |
| 2008 | Delgo · as Sedessa (voice) |
| 2007 | Memoirs of a Cigarette · as Mrs. Robinson |
| 2005 | Rumor Has It... · as Mrs. Robinson |
| 2003 | Celebrity Naked Ambition · as Cast |
| 2003 | The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone · as Contessa |
| 2003 | The 75th Annual Academy Awards · as Annie Sullivan |
| 2001 | In Search of Peace · as Golda Meir (voice) |
| 2001 | Heartbreakers · as Gloria Vogal |
| 2001 | Haven · as Mama Gruber |
| 2000 | |
| 2000 | Keeping the Faith · as Ruth Schram |
| 2000 | Up at the Villa · as Princess San Ferdinando |
| 1999 | Deep in My Heart · as Gerry Cummins |
| 1998 | Waking Ned Devine · as Villager Of Tullymore |
| 1998 | Antz · as Queen (voice) |
| 1998 | Mark Twain's America in · as Narrator |
| 1998 | Great Expectations · as Ms. Dinsmoor |
| 1997 | Critical Care · as Nun |
| 1997 | G.I. Jane · as Senator Lillian Dehaven |
| 1997 | The Living Edens (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1996 | The Sunchaser · as Dr. Renata Baumbauer |
| 1996 | Homecoming · as Abigail Tillerman |
| 1995 | Dracula: Dead and Loving It · as Madame Ouspenskaya |
| 1995 | Home for the Holidays · as Adele Larson |
| 1995 | How to Make an American Quilt · as Glady Joe Cleary |
| 1994 | Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (TV Series) · as Old Lucy Marsden |
| 1993 | Mr. Jones · as Dr. Catherine Holland |
| 1993 | Malice · as Mrs. Kennsinger |
| 1993 | Point of No Return · as Amanda |
| 1992 | Love Potion No. 9 · as Madame Ruth |
| 1992 | Honeymoon in Vegas · as Bea Singer |
| 1992 | Broadway Bound · as Kate Jerome |
| 1991 | Performance (TV Series) · as Mrs. Fanning |
| 1989 | The Simpsons (TV Series) · as Dr. Zweig (voice) |
| 1989 | Bert Rigby, You're a Fool · as Meredith Perlestein |
| 1988 | Torch Song Trilogy · as Ma Beckoff |
| 1987 | 84 Charing Cross Road · as Helene Hanff |
| 1986 | 'night, Mother · as Thelma Cates |
| 1985 | Agnes of God · as Mother Miriam Ruth |
| 1984 | Garbo Talks · as Estelle Rolfe |
| 1984 | James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate · as Jo Armitage (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 1983 | To Be or Not to Be · as Anna Bronski |
| 1982 | Marco Polo (TV Series) · as Madre Di Marco |
| 1982 | Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter · as Actress - Unidentified Film |
| 1980 | American Playhouse (TV Series) · as Mrs. Cage |
| 1980 | The Elephant Man · as Mrs Kendal |
| 1980 | Shogun · as Narrator |
| 1980 | Fatso · as Antoinette |
| 1977 | The Turning Point · as Emma |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth (TV Series) · as Mary Magdalene |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth · as Mary Magdalene |
| 1976 | America at the Movies · as Annie Sullivan |
| 1976 | Lipstick · as Carla Bondi |
| 1975 | The Hindenburg · as Ursula |
| 1975 | The Prisoner of Second Avenue · as Edna Edison |
| 1972 | Young Winston · as Lady Jennie Churchill |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as Mrs. Fanning |
| 1967 | The Graduate · as Mrs. Robinson |
| 1966 | ABC Stage 67 (TV Series) · as Virginia |
| 1965 | The Slender Thread · as Inga Dyson |
| 1965 | 7 Women · as Dr. D.r. Cartwright |
| 1964 | The Pumpkin Eater · as Jo Armitage |
| 1963 | Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) · as Faye Benet Garret |
| 1962 | The Miracle Worker · as Annie Sullivan |
| 1957 | The Frank Sinatra Show (TV Series) · as Carol Welles |
| 1957 | The Girl in Black Stockings · as Beth Dixon |
| 1957 | The Restless Breed · as Angelita |
| 1956 | Nightfall · as Marie Gardner |
| 1956 | Zane Grey Theater (TV Series) · as Isabelle Rutledge |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Isobel Waring |
| 1956 | Walk the Proud Land · as Tianay |
| 1955 | The Last Frontier · as Corinna Marston |
| 1955 | Alcoa Hour (TV Series) · as Alegre |
| 1955 | The Naked Street · as Rosalie Regalzyk |
| 1955 | A Life in the Balance · as María Ibinia |
| 1955 | New York Confidential · as Kathy Lupo |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Audrey |
| 1954 | Demetrius and the Gladiators · as Paula |
| 1954 | The Raid · as Katy Bishop |
| 1954 | Gorilla at Large · as Laverne Miller |
| 1953 | The Kid from Left Field · as Marian Foley |
| 1953 | Treasure of the Golden Condor · as Marie, Comtesse De St. Malo |
| 1953 | Tonight We Sing · as Emma Hurok |
| 1952 | Omnibus (TV Series) · as Paco's Sister (segment "the Capital Of The World" 2) |
| 1952 | Don't Bother to Knock · as Lyn Lesley |
| 1950 | The Adventures of Ellery Queen (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Leah |
| 1950 | Danger (TV Series) · as Gangster's Moll |
| 1950 | The Web (1950) (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1950 | The Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) · as Female Star |
| 1950 | The Man Who Had Influence · as Maria Cassini |
| 1949 | The Goldbergs (TV Series) · as Joyce |
| 1949 | Suspense (TV Series) |
| 1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Czechoslovakian Girl |
| 1948 | Ford Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1946 | Lights Out (TV Series) · as Helen Drome |