Anne Bancroft

Anne Bancroft was born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano on Sept. 17, 1931, in the Bronx, N.Y. After beginning her acting career as a contract player in Hollywood, Bancroft returned to New York and found success onstage, most notably for her Tony-winning role as Annie Sullivan in the 1959 production of "The Miracle Worker."

After many supporting film roles in the 1950s, the versatile actress reprised her role as Sullivan in director Arthur Penn's 1962 movie version, this time winning an Oscar. Bancroft's second signature role -- as the frustrated Mrs. Robinson opposite Dustin Hoffman in 1967's The Graduate -- brought her another Oscar nod.

Other notable films include The Pumpkin Eater (1964), The Turning Point (1977), Agnes of God (1985) and voice work as the queen in the 1998 animated film Antz. Bancroft was wed to actor-director-producer Mel Brooks from 1964 until her death on June 6, 2005.

Filmography