Anne Bancroft

Date of Birth: September 17, 1931

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: June 6, 2005

Biography

Anne Bancroft, born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano, was an acclaimed American actress known for her versatility and powerful performances across stage, television, and film. She was born on September 17, 1931, in the Bronx, New York City, to Italian immigrant parents. Bancroft began her career in the early 1950s, appearing in television shows and films. She achieved critical acclaim for her role as Annie Sullivan in the stage and film versions of “The Miracle Worker,” winning an Academy Award for Best Actress in the latter. Her most iconic role came in 1967 when she starred as Mrs. Robinson in “The Graduate,” a performance that has since become emblematic of seduction in popular culture. Throughout her career, Bancroft received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Anne Bancroft was married to actor and director Mel Brooks from 1964 until her death. She passed away on June 6, 2005, from uterine cancer at the age of 73.

5 Interesting Facts about Anne Bancroft

1. Anne Bancroft was one of the few actresses to have won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award.

2. She was initially hesitant to take on the role of Mrs. Robinson in “The Graduate” because she feared being typecast as an older woman, despite being only six years older than her co-star Dustin Hoffman.

3. Bancroft was a method actress and a member of the Actors Studio, where she honed her craft under the guidance of Lee Strasberg.

4. She was highly selective about her roles, turning down many high-profile parts to focus on meaningful projects.

5. Anne Bancroft was also a talented singer and performed in several musicals, including the 1963 Broadway production of “Mother Courage and Her Children.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Anne Bancroft

1. “Life is what you make it: If you snooze, you lose; and if you snore, you lose more.”

2. “The best way to get most husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they’re too old to do it.”

3. “I’m not a glamour girl. I’m not a twinkie starlet.”

4. “I’d rather be a character actress than a leading lady. Because character actresses have more fun.”

5. “I was driven to be an actress, not to be a star. I wanted to be an actress, and I wanted to be a good one.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of her career, Anne Bancroft’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.

Children

Anne Bancroft had one child, a son named Max Brooks, born in 1972. Max Brooks is an author, known for his best-selling book “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War.”