Reporting by Amanda Champagne-Meadows
When Mackenzie Astin was growing up, he got used to sharing his mom, the legendary Patty Duke, with her fans. But after she published her memoir, Call Me Anna, in 1987, something shifted. "After her autobiography, she transitioned from being just a professional actress to a passionate mental health advocate," Mack tells Closer exclusively. "People would come up to her and share deeply personal stories about how her book had changed someone's life." That's when Mack realized his mom's impact went far beyond the screen.
Patty Duke started acting at the tender age of 8, and her talent shone brightly. Born Anna Marie Duke, she won an Oscar for her portrayal of Helen Keller in the 1962 film The Miracle Worker. She then became a household name as the beloved star of The Patty Duke Show. "She was incredibly gifted," said William Schallert, who played her father on the show. "But it wasn't just her talent that made people adore her—it was her warmth and charm." Behind the scenes, however, Patty carried a heavy burden that the world didn't fully understand until much later.
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It wasn't until Patty released her memoir that the public learned about the abuse she endured at the hands of the couple managing her career, as well as her long battle with severe mood swings due to bipolar disorder. "For so long, I thought I was alone in my struggles," Patty once said. "But the truth is, there are so many others out there dealing with similar issues." Her openness about her diagnosis helped countless individuals feel less isolated. "Hearing her story gave people hope," Mack reflects. "She showed them they weren't alone."
Life Behind the Curtain
In 1972, Patty married John Astin, best known for his role as Gomez on The Addams Family. Together, they raised two sons, Sean, now 52, and Mack, 50, alongside John's three children from a previous marriage. Both Sean and Mack followed in their parents' footsteps, becoming actors themselves. "My mom was brutally honest about the challenges of being a child in show business," Mack explains. "Because of her frankness, Sean and I entered the industry with our eyes wide open, which was a huge advantage." Despite her success, Patty's undiagnosed bipolar disorder made her behavior unpredictable as a parent.
During her manic phases, Patty was playful, fun, and generous. "Christmas could be an absolute extravaganza," Mack recalls fondly. "She'd go on shopping sprees, buying us gifts left and right. She wanted to make sure we felt loved." But the highs were often followed by crushing lows. Patty, a three-time Emmy winner, would sometimes fall into deep depressions. "I loved being a mom," she admitted, "but I didn't have the tools I needed to be the parent I wanted to be." There were times when she couldn't get out of bed for days. "Watching someone you love struggle so deeply that they consider ending their life is devastating," Mack says. "It was especially tough when her dark moods coincided with the end of a job. She'd pour everything into her work, and then the letdown would hit hard."
John was the rock that held the family together. "His presence in my mom's life was absolutely critical," Mack says. "Without him, I don't know where we would've ended up. He had the patience and understanding to help her confront the demons she'd carried for so long." In 1982, a psychiatrist diagnosed Patty with what was then called manic-depression. She began therapy and started taking lithium to stabilize her moods. "Getting that diagnosis was a turning point," Mack explains. "For years, she'd been running from something she couldn't name. Having a label for it gave her hope. It meant she could finally start healing."
Though their marriage ended in 1985, John remained a constant presence in their lives. "The breakup was healthy for both of them," Mack says. "Sometimes, even the best relationships need to evolve."
Finding Normalcy
In 1985, Patty became the second woman elected as president of the Screen Actors Guild, but her priorities shifted when she fell in love with Michael Pearce, an Army sergeant she met on a film set. They married in 1986, moved to Idaho, and adopted their son, Kevin, in 1988. "She found her soulmate in Michael," Mack says. "At that point, she was ready to embrace a simpler life. She could go grocery shopping, plan meals, take out the trash, enjoy coffee on the porch, and chat with her neighbors. It was a beautiful time because she finally got what she always wanted—a normal life."
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Patty continued to advocate for mental health awareness and occasionally took acting roles until her passing in 2016 at the age of 69. She also authored two more books, including 1992's A Brilliant Madness: Living With Manic-Depressive Illness. "Her greatest legacy is the awareness she raised," Mack says. "Sure, winning an Academy Award is fantastic, and the Emmys and Golden Globes are great, but saving lives is far more meaningful than any trophy. There are people alive today who wouldn't be here if my mom hadn't shared her story. That's worth so much more than a statue sitting on a mantel."
