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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (43)
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
as Self (archive footage)
2018
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
as Self
2013
Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1980s, 1990s and 2000s
as Self (archive)
2009
Delgo
as Sedessa (voice)
2008
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
as Contessa
2003
In Search of Peace
as Golda Meir (voice)
2001
Heartbreakers
as Gloria Vogal
2001
Haven
as Mama Gruber
2001
Keeping the Faith
as Ruth Schram
2000
Up at the Villa
as Princess San Ferdinando
2000
Deep in My Heart
as Gerry Cummins
1999
Antz
as Queen (voice)
1998
Great Expectations
as Ms. Dinsmoor
1998
Critical Care
as Nun
1997
G.I. Jane
as Senator Lillian DeHaven
1997
The Sunchaser
as Dr. Renata Baumbauer
1996
Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels
as Self (archive footage)
1996
Homecoming
as Abigail Tillerman
1996
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
as Madame Ouspenskaya
1995
Home for the Holidays
as Adele Larson
1995
How to Make an American Quilt
as Glady Joe Cleary
1995
The Mother
as Mrs. Fanning
1994
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
as Lucy Marsden (age 99-100)
1994
Mr. Jones
as Dr. Catherine Holland
1993
Malice
as Mrs. Kennsinger
1993
Point of No Return
as Amanda
1993
Love Potion No. 9
as Madame Ruth
1992
Honeymoon in Vegas
as Bea Singer
1992
Mrs. Cage
as Mrs. Cage
1992
Broadway Bound
as Kate Jerome
1992
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool
as Meredith Perlestein
1989
Torch Song Trilogy
as Ma Beckoff
1988
84 Charing Cross Road
as Helene Hanff
1987
'night, Mother
as Thelma Cates
1986
Agnes of God
as Mother Miriam Ruth
1985
Garbo Talks
as Estelle Rolfe
1984
An Audience with Mel Brooks
as Self
1984
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate
as Jo Armitage (archive footage) (uncredited)
1984
To Be or Not to Be
as Anna Bronski
1983
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
as Self
1982
The Elephant Man
as Mrs Kendal
1980
Fatso
as Antoinette
1980
The Muppets Go Hollywood
as Self
1979
TV Shows (7)
Legends
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2006
Curb Your Enthusiasm
as Anne Bancroft
2000
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
as Old Lucy Marsden
1994
Performance
as Mrs. Fanning
1991
Freddie and Max
as Max Chandler
1990
The Simpsons
as Dr. Zweig (voice)
1989
Marco Polo
as Madre di Marco
1982