Anne Bancroft

American actress

Also known as: Anna Maria Louisa Italiano

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Quick Facts

Original name:: Anna Maria Louisa Italiano

Born:: September 17, 1931, Bronx, New York, U.S.

Died:: June 6, 2005, New York, N.Y. (aged 73)

Awards And Honors:: Tony Awards; Academy Award (1963); Academy Award (1963): Actress in a Leading Role; Emmy Award (1999): Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie; Golden Globe Award (1968): Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy; Golden Globe Award (1965): Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama; Tony Award (1960): Best Actress in a Play; Tony Award (1958): Best Featured Actress in a Play

Notable Family Members:: spouse Mel Brooks

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "Heartbreakers" (2001); "The Simpsons" (1994); "The Frank Sinatra Show" (1958); "The Goldbergs" (1951); "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977); "The Miracle Worker" (1962); "Lipstick" (1976); "Garbo Talks" (1984); "Climax!" (1956–1957); "The Slender Thread" (1965); "Tonight We Sing" (1953); "Demetrius and the Gladiators" (1954); "Lights Out" (1951); "Kraft Television Theatre" (1953); "The Naked Street" (1955); "Agnes of God" (1985); "Home for the Holidays" (1995); "Studio One" (1950–1951); "The Raid" (1954); "Keeping the Faith" (2000); "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" (1995); "Honeymoon in Vegas" (1992); "Freddie and Max" (1990); "The Restless Breed" (1957); "The Pumpkin Eater" (1964); "Suspense" (1951); "Nightfall" (1956); "Omnibus" (1953); "The Graduate" (1967); "Malice" (1993); "Delgo" (2008); "Up at the Villa" (2000); "Fatso" (1980); "ABC Stage 67" (1967); "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (2004); "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All" (1994); "The Sunchaser" (1996); "'night, Mother" (1986); "The Turning Point" (1977); "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" (1964); "The Alcoa Hour" (1956–1957); "Critical Care" (1997); "7 Women" (1966); "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" (1975); "Point of No Return" (1993); "The Web" (1951); "How to Make an American Quilt" (1995); "Playhouse 90" (1957); "Danger" (1951); "American Playhouse" (1992); "Silent Movie" (1976); "Marco Polo" (1982); "The Adventures of Ellery Queen" (1951); "Love Potion No. 9" (1992); "The Kid from Left Field" (1953); "To Be or Not to Be" (1983); "A Life in the Balance" (1955); "Great Expectations" (1998); "Your Favorite Story" (1954); "Bert Rigby, You're a Fool" (1989); "Treasure of the Golden Condor" (1953); "Antz" (1998); "Zane Grey Theater" (1957); "Gorilla at Large" (1954); "The Ford Theatre Hour" (1951); "84 Charing Cross Road" (1987); "Mr. Jones" (1993); "Don't Bother to Knock" (1952); "Walk the Proud Land" (1956); "Torch Song Trilogy" (1988); "The Girl in Black Stockings" (1957); "Great Performances" (1994); "The Last Frontier" (1955); "New York Confidential" (1955); "G.I. Jane" (1997); "The Hindenburg" (1975); "The Elephant Man" (1980); "Armstrong Circle Theatre" (1951); "Lux Video Theatre" (1950–1957); "Young Winston" (1972)

Anne Bancroft (born September 17, 1931, Bronx, New York, U.S.—died June 6, 2005, New York, N.Y.) was an American actress whose half-century-long career was studded with renowned successes on stage, screen, and television. She won both a Tony Award and an Academy Award for best actress for one of her most physically and emotionally demanding roles, that of Helen Keller’s teacher, Annie Sullivan, in The Miracle Worker (Broadway, 1959; film, 1962), but it was with another Oscar-nominated film role, the seductive Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate (1967), that—to her bewilderment—she was most identified.

Bancroft began her career in the 1950s in live television productions, including the comedy series The Goldbergs, and in a number of grade-B or C movies. Dissatisfied with the roles she was finding, Bancroft moved to New York City. Her 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. The role of Annie Sullivan followed the next year, and the film version of that play rejuvenated her movie career.

In addition to her role in The Graduate, Bancroft also received Oscar nominations for her performances as an isolated wife in The Pumpkin Eater (1964), as a ballet dancer in The Turning Point (1977), and as a mother superior in Agnes of God (1985). Other notable film credits included The Slender Thread (1965), Young Winston (1972), The Elephant Man (1980), ’Night, Mother (1986), and 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), as well as three with her second husband, comedian-director-producer Mel Brooks—Silent Movie (1976), To Be or Not to Be (1983), and Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995). For one of Bancroft’s occasional returns to the stage— Golda (1977)—she received a third Tony nomination, and television roles in PBS’s Mrs. Cage (1992) and CBS’s Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (1994) earned her Emmy Award nominations.

Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema).

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