Patty Duke dies aged 69

Patty Duke has died aged 69. The American Oscar-winning actress - who was born Anna Duke - tragically passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning (29.03.16) of sepsis from a ruptured intestine. Her representative Michael Stubbs said: "She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a mental health advocate and a cultural icon. She will be greatly missed." A statement from her family added: "This morning, our beloved wife, mother, matriarch and the exquisite artist and champion of mental health, Anna Patty Duke, closed her eyes, quieted her pain and ascended to a beautiful place." Patty - who underwent a heart bypass in 2004 - shot to fame as a child when she played the role of Helen Keller in 'The Miracle Worker', for which she scooped an Oscar, in 1963. She also picked up an Emmy Award just over two decades later in 1980 for playing Keller's teacher in the TV movie. But that wasn't the only Emmy she managed to stash under her belt as Patty was also honoured for her role in 'My Sweet Charlie' in 1970 and 'Captains and the Kings' in 1976. And her career wasn't just limited to film and television either as she also had an impressive career on Broadway. Patty is survived by her husband of 30 years Michael Pearce and her three children, Sean, Mackenzie and Kevin.