By Heidi Simmons
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“Call Me Anna”
&
“Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness”
by Patty Duke
Non-fiction
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Actress Patty Duke died last month on March 29 at the age 69. Since her death, I have been surprised how often Duke has came up in conversation. Not just about her acting career, but as a mental health advocate. Duke wrote two books: Call Me Anna co-authored with Kenneth Turan (Bantam, 336 pages) and Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness co-authored with Gloria Hochman (Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages) both books detail living with mental illness.
Duke was born Anna Marie Duke in 1946. At age 16, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Helen Keller in the film The Miracle Worker. The following year, she had her own television series called The Patty Duke Show where she played two roles as identical cousins. Over the course of her career, she won three Emmy awards and two Golden Globes. Duke served as the Screen Actors Guild president from 1985 to 1988.
In Call Me Anna, published in 1987, Duke describes her difficult home life and incredible Hollywood career. At age seven, Duke’s name was changed and her career was managed in detail from what to say and what to wear. Every part of her life was controlled which set off life-changing events that included drug abuse and mood swings.
Duke never had a “normal” childhood. Her father was an alcoholic and her mother was “clinically depressed.” Growing up in “Hollywood,” her life was dysfunctional and an emotional rollercoaster. She was married and divorced three times. As a young woman she noticed she could not control her temper. She was prone to spending sprees and wild affairs. Finally at age 35, Duke was diagnosed with “Manic Depression” — now called bipolar disorder. At last, she was able to understand herself, her condition and move toward treatment and healing.
If you love real Hollywood dramas, Call Me Anna is filled with the craziness of behind the scenes stories. But the significance of this book is seeing Duke’s mental illness bloom as an abused and used child deprived of a healthy and loving up-bringing. Working in show business only threw fuel on the fire.
In 1992, Duke published her second book, Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness. In this honest and forth coming account of her disorder and diagnosis, Duke gives an account of her life with mental illness. She discusses the symptoms and signs, and the drugs that worked and the treatments that didn’t. Lithium became her “wonder drug.” Co-author Dr. Hochman adds to the narrative by providing more information on the disorder, its different manifestations, and treatment options.
Duke includes a chapter on the connection between creativity and bi-polar disorder. She gives examples of entertainers, musicians, politicians and businesspersons who thrive and suffer with the illness.
Both these books have become required reading for those who have or know someone with bi-polar disorder. Duke was the first person of fame to speak out personally about her problem and what life is like dealing with mental illness. She was bold and brave. Once diagnosed, Duke was able to find a treatment that worked for her. She found a happy and fulfilling life.
Besides her great work as an actress, Duke will be remembered for these two significant books and the continuing help they provide for those who desperately need to have a better understanding of bi-polar disorder. RIP Anna Marie.
