''Call Me Anna'' is a 1990 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

biographical A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or curric ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Gilbert Cates Gilbert Cates ( né Katz; June 6, 1934 – October 31, 2011) was an American film director and television producer, director of the Geffen Playhouse, a member of Cates/Doty Productions, and founding dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film an ...

and written by

John McGreevey John McGreevey (December 21, 1922 – November 24, 2010) was an American writer and screenwriter. He is the father of former Disney star and Emmy-nominated television writer Michael McGreevey. Filmography ;Films *1969: '' Hello Down There'' * ...

. It is based on the 1988 book ''Call Me Anna'' by

Patty Duke Anna Marie Duke (December 14, 1946 – March 29, 2016), known professionally as Patty Duke, was an American actress. Over the course of her acting career, she was the recipient of an Academy Awards, Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ...

and

Kenneth Turan Kenneth Turan (; born October 27, 1946) is an American retired film critic, author, and lecturer in the Master of Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California. He was a film critic for the ''Los Angeles Times'' from 1991 ...

. The film stars Patty Duke,

Timothy Carhart Timothy Carhart (born December 24, 1953) is an American actor. He starred in the CBS drama '' Island Son'' (1989–90) and has had recurring roles in '' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' (2000–03) and '' 24'' (2002). He also starred in the 19 ...

Howard Hesseman Howard Hesseman (February 27, 1940 – January 29, 2022) was an American actor known for his television roles as burned-out disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on '' WKRP in Cincinnati'' and the lead role of history teacher Charlie Moore on '' Head ...

Deborah May Deborah May (born September 28, 1948) is an American actress and model. May won the Miss Indiana beauty pageant in 1970. Life and career May was born in Remington, Indiana. In 1970 she won Miss Indiana, and the following year was in the Mi ...

Ari Meyers Ari Meyers is an American former actress. She played the role of Emma Jane McArdle in the television series '' Kate & Allie'' (1984). Early years Meyers was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Jewish American parents who were touring on the isla ...

and

Millie Perkins Millie Perkins (born May 12, 1936) is an American retired model and film and television actress known for her debut film role as Anne Frank in ''The Diary of Anne Frank (1959 film), The Diary of Anne Frank'' (1959), and for her supporting actre ...

. The film premiered on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

on November 11, 1990.

Plot

The film traces Duke’s rise to fame, beginning with her early years under the management of John and Ethel Ross, who changed her name from Anna Marie Duke to Patty Duke. It highlights her breakthrough role as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker, for which she won an Academy Award at age 16. The narrative also explores her struggles with bipolar disorder, tumultuous personal relationships, and eventual advocacy for mental health awareness. - IMDb

Cast

as Anna Marie Duke **

as Patty Duke (youth) **Jenny Robertson as Patty Duke (young adult) * Arthur Taxier as

John Astin John Allen Astin (born March 30, 1930) is an American actor and director who has appeared in numerous stage, television and film roles, primarily in character roles. He is widely known for his role as patriarch Gomez Addams in ''The Addams Famil ...

as John Ross *

as Ethel Ross *

as Frances Duke *

as Harry Falk *

Matthew Perry Matthew Langford Perry (August 19, 1969 – October 28, 2023) was an American and Canadian actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. He gained international fame for starring as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom ''Friends'' (1994– ...

as Desi Arnaz Jr. * David Packer as Glenn Bell (pseudonym for Michael Tell) *

Karl Malden Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich; March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009) was an American stage, movie and television actor who first achieved acclaim in the original Broadway productions of Arthur Miller's '' All My Sons'' and Tennessee Will ...

as Dr. Harold Arlen *Woody Eney as

Fred Coe Frederick Hayden Hughs Coe (December 23, 1914 – April 29, 1979) was an American television producer and director most famous for '' The Goodyear Television Playhouse''/'' The Philco Television Playhouse'' in 1948-1955 and ''Playhouse 90'' from ...

*Dana Gladstone as Fred Maxwell *François Giroday as Bob McLaren *Lora Staley as

Anne Bancroft Anne Bancroft (born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano; September 17, 1931 – June 6, 2005) was an American actress. Respected for her acting prowess and versatility, Bancroft received an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, tw ...

*Ray Duke as John Patrick Duke * Glenn Quinn as

George Chakiris George Chakiris (born September 16, 1932) is an American actor and dancer. He is best known for his appearance in the 1961 film version of ''West Side Story'' as Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks gang, for which he won both the Academy Award fo ...

Cory Danziger Cory Danziger is an American actor, political activist, and conceptual artist. He is sometimes mis-credited as Cory Danzi''n''ger. Danziger was born in Los Angeles County, California. As an actor, his most notable role was as Dave Peterson, th ...

Sean Astin Sean Patrick Astin (; born February 25, 1971) is an American actor. His acting roles include Mikey Walsh in '' The Goonies'' (1985), Billy Tepper in '' Toy Soldiers'' (1991), Dave Morgan in '' Encino Man'' (1992), Daniel Ruettiger in '' Rudy'' ...

**Zachary Benjamin as Sean Astin (young) *Ryan Francis as Mackie Astin *Matthew Linville as Mackie Astin (young) *Paige Gosney as Billy *Seth Isler as Game Show Producer *Nicholas Hormann as Game Show Host *

Richard Fancy Richard Ronald Fancy (born August 2, 1943) is an American actor and comedian known for his recurring role on ''Seinfeld'' as publisher Mr. Lippman, Elaine Benes's employer. Early life Fancy was born August 2, 1943, in Evanston, Illinois, to ...

as Contract Lawyer

References

External links

* {{Gilbert Cates 1990 television films 1990 films 1990 drama films 1990s biographical drama films American biographical drama films Biographical films about actors Films based on biographies Drama films based on actual events American biographical television films Films set in the 1950s Films set in the 1960s Films set in the 1970s Films set in the 1980s Films directed by Gilbert Cates Cultural depictions of actors 1990s English-language films 1990s American films English-language biographical drama films