Anne Bancroft dies at 73

[paineinthearse]

Oscar-winning actress who played seductress in 'The Graduate' succumbs to cancer

Anne Bancroft dies at 73http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,158856,00.html

Anne Bancroft Dies at 73

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

NEW YORK — Anne Bancroft, the actress who famously portrayed cradle-robbing seductress Mrs. Robinson in the 1967 movie "The Graduate," has died. She was 73. She died of cancer on Monday at Mount Sinai Hospital, John Barlow, a spokesman for her husband, producer Mel Brooks, said Tuesday. Bancroft won the 1962 best actress Oscar as the teacher of a young Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker." She also won the Tony for creating the role on Broadway of poor-sighted Annie Sullivan, the teacher of Keller, who was deaf and blind. She repeated her portrayal in the film version. Despite her Academy Award and four other nominations, "The Graduate" overshadowed her other achievements.

Bancroft complained to a 2003 interviewer: "I am quite surprised that with all my work, and some of it is very, very good, that nobody talks about 'The Miracle Worker.' We're talking about Mrs. Robinson. I understand the world. ... I'm just a little dismayed that people aren't beyond it yet." Dustin Hoffman delivered the famous line when he realized his girlfriend's mother was coming on to him at her house: "Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?"

Her beginnings in Hollywood were unimpressive. She was signed by Twentieth Century-Fox in 1952 and given the glamour treatment. She had been acting in television as Anne Marno (her real name: Anna Maria Louise Italiano), but it sounded too ethnic for movies. The studio gave her a choice of names; she picked Bancroft "because it sounded dignified."

After a series of B pictures, she escaped to Broadway in 1958 and won her first Tony opposite Henry Fonda in "Two for the Seesaw." The stage and movie versions of "The Miracle Worker" followed. Her other Academy nominations: "The Pumpkin Eater" (1964); "The Graduate" (1967); "The Turning Point" (1977); "Agnes of God" (1985). Bancroft became known for her willingness to assume a variety of portrayals. She appeared as Winston Churchill's American mother in TV's "Young Winston"; as Golda Meir in "Golda" onstage; a gypsy woman in the film "Love Potion No. 9"; a centenarian for the TV version of "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All."

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Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson

[ailsagirl]

1. A wonderful, powerful person and dynamic actress

I never saw such exquisite acting as I did in "The Miracle Worker." And who could forget "The Graduate?"

What a thoroughbred.

Farewell, Annie

[Ken Burch]

2. RIP, Anne.

I loved the fact that she was willing to appear in WAKING NED DEVINE as an extra.

Also, the late night conversations between her and Mel Brooks must have been fascinating.

A classy person and a legend of the theatre. She'll be missed.

And yes, Ben, she WAS trying to seduce you.

[Rick Myers]

3. Both Janet and I wish to express our condolences to Mel Brooks

Anne was a great woman, and we want Mel to know our hearts are with him.

Here's to you. Mrs. Robinson.

[RoyGBiv]

4. Here's to you,

Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Wo wo wo
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson,
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey hey hey, hey hey hey

Someone had to say it.

[Cleita]

5. No one ever mentions her portrayal of the Senator in

"G. I. Jane" with Demi Moore. Maybe it's because she disappears into her role so effectively that no one recognizes her.

An actor I knew, because he was my landlord, was once entertaining a group of us tenants with stories of his leading ladies of which Ann was one of them. Ann was as he called her, "a great gal" and a joy to work with. He was intimidated working with an award winning actress of her stature but she put him right at ease with a ribald joke before they got to work.

[tmooses]

6. She was one of those rare ones who transcended the screen and

made you feel she was talking directly to you. I always thought she was incredibly beautiful and with an intelligence and honesty that is rare to see. I will miss you, Anne.

[efhmc]

8. Well said. I thought she was fantastic in the Miracle Worker.

[gauguin57]

7. And her 40-year marriage to Mel Brooks is to be commended, too.

40 years. In showbiz. Amazing.

She was so fabulous.

"The Elephant Man." "The Miracle Worker." "The Turning Point." "Agnes of God." "Torch Song Trilogy." "84 Charing Cross Road." "Night, Mother." So many more. She kicked ass.

[paineinthearse]

9. Just watched "Young Frankenstein" today

My son likes Gene Wilder, loved "Willy Wonka" as a kid, he's old enough to appreciate the more grown-up comedies.

Can you imagine being married to Mel Brooks for 40 years? Yow!

[papercut]

10. Feels like losing family

She was so real and accessible in every role. And indeed one of the great beauties.

My thoughts are with poor Mel today. He must be devastated.

[Carolab]

11. This is fitting.

The lights on Broadway will be dimmed Wednesday in Bancroft's honor, the League of American Theatres said.

[Carla in Ca]

13. Oh, I'm glad to hear that

A great tribute and well deserved.

[XOKCowboy]

12. RIP to Anne and my condolences to Mel Brooks

Two of my favorite entertainers. She'll be long remembered.

[flygal]

14. Oh no no no

I loved her is so many movies. Damn damn damn. Peaceful journey to you Anne.

[Piperay]

15. R-I-P Anne

O8)

[Skittles]

16. LOL, "cradle-robbing" seductress

in that movie she is 36 and Dustin Hoffman is 30

[Deja Q]

19. She looked late-40s though.

Great make-up as she was a dish in the day. (I'm gay so don't think I'm converting from the peso to the lira just yet...!)

I wonder if they did it for real...?

[Skittles]

21. ooh I love Dustin Hoffman

I'd go for it :thumbsup:

[pacifictiger]

17. She was

always one of my favorites. I had no idea she was Mel's wife though. What a pair!

[scarletlib]

18. Rest in Peace

I hope Mel is able to weather this storm in his life.

[paineinthearse]

20. .

[mondo joe]

22. I can't think of the 70's without thinkingof The Turning Point

Emma: It didn't work out.
Emilia: Oh, so what? He liked boys better than girls?
Emma: Oh, not exactly. He knew my priority was dancing.
Emilia: Are you... sorry?
Emma: No. I don't believe in being sorry. We are what we are