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Photo of Anne Bancroft

Anne Bancroft

Actor, Director, Writer
Died 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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Jesus of Nazareth
  • The Sunchaser
  • Homecoming
  • New York Confidential
  • The Restless Breed
Known For
  • The Graduate
  • The Elephant Man
  • Antz
  • The Miracle Worker
  • 84 Charing Cross Road
  • Keeping the Faith
  • Great Expectations
  • Heartbreakers
  • G.I. Jane
  • The Turning Point
  • The Pumpkin Eater
  • To Be or Not to Be
  • Jesus of Nazareth
  • How to Make an American Quilt
  • Point of No Return
  • Love Potion No. 9
  • Home for the Holidays
  • Malice
  • Agnes of God
  • The Hindenburg
  • Don't Bother to Knock
  • 7 Women
  • Torch Song Trilogy
  • Mr. Jones

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
2003
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
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
Shogun (TV Series) · as Narrator
1980
Fatso · as Antoinette
1977
1977
Jesus of Nazareth (TV Series) · as Mary Magdalene
1976
America at the Movies · as Annie Sullivan
1976
Lipstick · as Carla Bondi
1975
The Hindenburg · as Ursula
1975
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
1957
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
1954
Climax! (TV Series) · as Audrey
1954
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 Kendal Browning
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 Maria Cassini
1948
Ford Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast
1947
Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast
1946
Lights Out (TV Series) · as Helen Drome

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