Anne Bancroft

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 PS 12 later moving to 1580 Zerega Ave Bancrofts Broadway debut in the twocharacter 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