Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
September 17, 1931
Place of Birth:
Bronx, New York, USA
Social Media
Anne Bancroft
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.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Mel Brooks: Unwrapped | Self (archive footage) |
| 2014 | And the Oscar Goes To... | Self (archive footage) |
| 2013 | Mel Brooks: Make a Noise | Self |
| 2009 | Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1980s, 1990s and 2000s | Self (archive) |
| 2008 | Delgo | Sedessa (voice) |
| 2007 | I Could Never Be Your Woman | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 2003 | The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone | Contessa |
| 2001 | Heartbreakers | Gloria Vogal |
| 2001 | Haven | Mama Gruber |
| 2001 | In Search of Peace | Golda Meir (voice) |
| 2000 | Keeping the Faith | Ruth Schram |
| 2000 | Up at the Villa | Princess San Ferdinando |
| 1999 | Deep in My Heart | Gerry Cummins |
| 1998 | Antz | Queen (voice) |
| 1998 | Great Expectations | Ms. Dinsmoor |
| 1997 | G.I. Jane | Senator Lillian DeHaven |
| 1997 | Critical Care | Nun |
| 1996 | The Sunchaser | Dr. Renata Baumbauer |
| 1996 | Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels | Self (archive footage) |
| 1996 | Homecoming | Abigail Tillerman |
| 1995 | How to Make an American Quilt | Glady Joe Cleary |
| 1995 | Home for the Holidays | Adele Larson |
| 1995 | Dracula: Dead and Loving It | Madame Ouspenskaya |
| 1994 | The Mother | Mrs. Fanning |
| 1994 | Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All | Lucy Marsden (age 99-100) |
| 1993 | Malice | Mrs. Kennsinger |
| 1993 | Point of No Return | Amanda |
| 1993 | Mr. Jones | Dr. Catherine Holland |
| 1992 | Love Potion No. 9 | Madame Ruth |
| 1992 | Honeymoon in Vegas | Bea Singer |
| 1992 | Broadway Bound | Kate Jerome |
| 1992 | Mrs. Cage | Mrs. Cage |
| 1989 | Bert Rigby, You're a Fool | Meredith Perlestein |
| 1988 | Torch Song Trilogy | Ma Beckoff |
| 1987 | 84 Charing Cross Road | Helene Hanff |
| 1986 | 'night, Mother | Thelma Cates |
| 1985 | Agnes of God | Mother Miriam Ruth |
| 1984 | James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate | Jo Armitage (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1984 | Garbo Talks | Estelle Rolfe |
| 1984 | An Audience with Mel Brooks | Self |
| 1983 | To Be or Not to Be | Anna Bronski |
| 1982 | Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny | Self |
| 1980 | The Elephant Man | Mrs Kendal |
| 1980 | Fatso | Antoinette |
| 1979 | The Muppets Go Hollywood | Self |
| 1978 | Mickey's 50 | Self |
| 1977 | The Turning Point | Emma |
| 1976 | Silent Movie | Self |
| 1976 | Lipstick | Carla Bondi |
| 1975 | The Hindenburg | Ursula |
| 1975 | The Prisoner of Second Avenue | Edna Edison |
| 1972 | Young Winston | Lady Jennie Churchill |
| 1970 | Annie: the Women in the Life of a Man | Various |
| 1967 | The Graduate | Mrs. Robinson |
| 1965 | 7 Women | Dr. D.R. Cartwright |
| 1965 | The Slender Thread | Inga Dyson |
| 1964 | The Pumpkin Eater | Jo Armitage |
| 1962 | The Miracle Worker | Annie Sullivan |
| 1957 | The Girl in Black Stockings | Beth Dixon |
| 1957 | The Restless Breed | Angelita |
| 1956 | Nightfall | Marie Gardner |
| 1956 | Walk the Proud Land | Tianay |
| 1955 | The Last Frontier | Corinna Marston |
| 1955 | New York Confidential | Kathy Lupo |
| 1955 | A Life in the Balance | María Ibinia |
| 1955 | The Naked Street | Rosalie Regalzyk |
| 1954 | Demetrius and the Gladiators | Paula |
| 1954 | Gorilla at Large | Laverne Miller |
| 1954 | The Raid | Katy Bishop |
| 1953 | The Kid from Left Field | Marian Foley |
| 1953 | Treasure of the Golden Condor | Marie, Comtesse de St. Malo |
| 1953 | Tonight We Sing | Emma Hurok |
| 1952 | Don't Bother to Knock | Lyn Lesley |
| 1950 | The Man Who Had Influence | Maria Cassini |
| Mel Brooks: The Genius Entertainer | Herself |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Legends | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 2000 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Anne Bancroft |
| 1994 | Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All | Old Lucy Marsden |
| 1991 | Performance | Mrs. Fanning |
| 1990 | Freddie and Max | Max Chandler |
| 1989 | The Simpsons | Dr. Zweig (voice) |
| 1982 | Marco Polo | Madre di Marco |
| 1978 | An Audience with... | Self |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth | Mary Magdalene |
| 1974 | Flick Flack | |
| 1971 | Great Performances | Mrs. Fanning |
| 1966 | ABC Stage 67 | Virginia |
| 1957 | Tonight Starring Jack Paar | Self |
| 1956 | Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre | Isabelle Rutledge |
| 1956 | Tony Awards | Self - Presenter |
| 1954 | Climax! | Audrey |
| 1954 | Climax! | Elena Vallejo |
| 1953 | The Oscars | Self |
| 1950 | Lux Video Theatre | Leah |
| 1950 | Lux Video Theatre | Kendal Browning |
| 1950 | Lux Video Theatre | Ann Sommers |
| 1950 | Lux Video Theatre | Cathy |
| 1950 | Lux Video Theatre | Lolita |
| 1950 | Lux Video Theatre | Sally |
| 1950 | What's My Line? | Self - Mystery Guest |
| 1949 | Suspense | |
| 1948 | Studio One | Maria Cassini |
| 1948 | Studio One | Czechoslovakian Girl |
| 1948 | Studio One | Lisa Berzins |