Anne Bancroft
Acting • Born 1931-09-17 – Died 2005-06-06
Biography
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.
Filmography
106 credits
The Miracle Worker
Movie • 1962
Annie Sullivan
Malice
Movie • 1993
Mrs. Kennsinger
The Elephant Man
Movie • 1980
Mrs Kendal
Point of No Return
Movie • 1993
Amanda
Heartbreakers
Movie • 2001
Gloria Vogal
G.I. Jane
Movie • 1997
Senator Lillian DeHaven
Silent Movie
Movie • 1976
Self
The Last Frontier
Movie • 1955
Corinna Marston
Keeping the Faith
Movie • 2000
Ruth Schram
Delgo
Movie • 2008
Sedessa (voice)
The Mother
Movie • 1994
Mrs. Fanning
To Be or Not to Be
Movie • 1983
Anna Bronski
Don't Bother to Knock
Movie • 1952
Lyn Lesley
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate
Movie • 1984
Jo Armitage (archive footage) (uncredited)
Agnes of God
Movie • 1985
Mother Miriam Ruth
How to Make an American Quilt
Movie • 1995
Glady Joe Cleary
Torch Song Trilogy
Movie • 1988
Ma Beckoff
Antz
Movie • 1998
Queen (voice)
Great Expectations
Movie • 1998
Ms. Dinsmoor
Love Potion No. 9
Movie • 1992
Madame Ruth
Home for the Holidays
Movie • 1995
Adele Larson
Honeymoon in Vegas
Movie • 1992
Bea Singer
Nightfall
Movie • 1956
Marie Gardner
'night, Mother
Movie • 1986
Thelma Cates
New York Confidential
Movie • 1955
Kathy Lupo
Demetrius and the Gladiators
Movie • 1954
Paula
The Graduate
Movie • 1967
Mrs. Robinson
The Turning Point
Movie • 1977
Emma
Critical Care
Movie • 1997
Nun
The Girl in Black Stockings
Movie • 1957
Beth Dixon
84 Charing Cross Road
Movie • 1987
Helene Hanff
The Sunchaser
Movie • 1996
Dr. Renata Baumbauer
Fatso
Movie • 1980
Antoinette
Young Winston
Movie • 1972
Lady Jennie Churchill
The Hindenburg
Movie • 1975
Ursula
Up at the Villa
Movie • 2000
Princess San Ferdinando
7 Women
Movie • 1965
Dr. D.R. Cartwright
The Slender Thread
Movie • 1965
Inga Dyson
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Movie • 1975
Edna Edison
The Pumpkin Eater
Movie • 1964
Jo Armitage
Gorilla at Large
Movie • 1954
Laverne Miller
The Raid
Movie • 1954
Katy Bishop
Lipstick
Movie • 1976
Carla Bondi
Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels
Movie • 1996
Self (archive footage)
A Life in the Balance
Movie • 1955
María Ibinia
Deep in My Heart
Movie • 1999
Gerry Cummins
The Naked Street
Movie • 1955
Rosalie Regalzyk
Garbo Talks
Movie • 1984
Estelle Rolfe
The Kid from Left Field
Movie • 1953
Marian Foley
Homecoming
Movie • 1996
Abigail Tillerman
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool
Movie • 1989
Meredith Perlestein
The Restless Breed
Movie • 1957
Angelita
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
Movie • 2003
Contessa
Broadway Bound
Movie • 1992
Kate Jerome
Walk the Proud Land
Movie • 1956
Tianay
Treasure of the Golden Condor
Movie • 1953
Marie, Comtesse de St. Malo
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
Movie • 1994
Lucy Marsden (age 99-100)
Mrs. Cage
Movie • 1992
Mrs. Cage
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Movie • 2013
Self
Mr. Jones
Movie • 1993
Dr. Catherine Holland
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Movie • 1995
Madame Ouspenskaya
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Movie • 2018
Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: The Genius Entertainer
Movie
Herself
An Audience with Mel Brooks
Movie • 1984
Self
Tonight We Sing
Movie • 1953
Emma Hurok
Annie: The Women in the Life of a Man
Movie • 1970
Various
Mickey's 50
Movie • 1978
Self
The Man Who Had Influence
Movie • 1950
Maria Cassini
Haven
Movie • 2001
Mama Gruber
In Search of Peace
Movie • 2001
Golda Meir (voice)
The Muppets Go Hollywood
Movie • 1979
Self
Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1980s, 1990s and 2000s
Movie • 2009
Self (archive)
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
Movie • 1982
Self
So Soon to Die
Movie • 1957
Isobel Waring
Invitation to a Gunfighter
Movie • 1957
Julie Bickford
Hollywood: No Sex, Please!
Movie • 2018
Celebrity Naked Ambition
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
Mark Twain's America in 3D
Movie • 1998
Narrator
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
Dr. Zweig (voice)
Studio One
TV • 1948
Maria Cassini
Curb Your Enthusiasm
TV • 2000
Anne Bancroft
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Leah
Climax!
TV • 1954
Audrey
ABC Stage 67
TV • 1966
Virginia
Suspense
TV • 1949
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Isabelle Rutledge
Jesus of Nazareth
TV • 1977
Mary Magdalene
The Oscars
TV • 1953
Self
Freddie and Max
TV • 1990
Max Chandler
Performance
TV • 1991
Mrs. Fanning
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Kendal Browning
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Ann Sommers
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Cathy
An Audience with...
TV • 1978
Self
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Lolita
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Sally
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
TV • 1957
Self
What's My Line?
TV • 1950
Self - Mystery Guest
Flick Flack
TV • 1974
Studio One
TV • 1948
Czechoslovakian Girl
Studio One
TV • 1948
Lisa Berzins
Climax!
TV • 1954
Elena Vallejo
Legends
TV • 2006
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Marco Polo
TV • 1982
Madre di Marco
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
TV • 1994
Old Lucy Marsden
Great Performances
TV • 1971
Mrs. Fanning