Trivia

In June 2005 at her memorial service in New York City, Paul Simon sang "Mrs. Robinson" and she was eulogized by her Miracle en Alabama (1962) co-star Patty Duke.

She and Mel Brooks married at New York City Hall, where a passer-by served as their witness.

Said that for many years after doing Le lauréat (1967), young men would tell her that she was the first woman they had sexual fantasies about.

She, Mel Brooks and their son Max Brooks all are Emmy-winners.

In 1999 she became the 15th performer to win the Triple Crown of acting. Oscar: Best Actress, Miracle en Alabama (1962), Tonys: Best Supporting Actress-Play, "Two for the Seesaw" (1958) and Best Actress-Play, "The Miracle Worker" (1960), and Emmy: Best Supporting Actress-Miniseries/Movie, Deep in My Heart (1999).

She and Mel Brooks met on the set of a talk show, and Mel later paid a woman who worked on the show to tell him which restaurant Anne was going to eat at that night so he could "accidentally" bump into her again and strike up a conversation.

After her contract with Fox expired and she tired of working in Los Angeles, Bancroft returned to New York where she enrolled in acting classes at HB Studios to "unlearn" some of her film and tv technique in order to fulfill her dreams of becoming an accomplished stage performer.

Was only eight years older than Katharine Ross, who played her daughter in Le lauréat (1967). Bancroft's character is said to be "twice as old" as Dustin Hoffman but in real life she was only six years older than him.

She said that at the start of her career, 20th Century-Fox thought that her real name--Anna Maria Italiano--was "too ethnic", and gave her several options for a new one. She chose Bancroft because she thought it sounded dignified.

Her performance as Mrs. Robinson in Le lauréat (1967) is ranked #47 on "Premiere" Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

Son with Mel Brooks: Max Brooks, born 1972.

Was offered the role of Chris MacNeil in L'Exorciste (1973).

In 1987 was booked to appear on the British chat show Wogan (1982). In the green room five minutes before airtime, host Terry Wogan informed her that the show was live. According to Wogan she turned a deathly shade of pale and said she never did live television. In order to calm her down, Wogan suggested that she count 1, 2, 3... before walking on. When she was called onto the set, she could quite noticeably be seen counting whilst walking to her seat. She remained very uncomfortable and all her answers were monosyllabic. Wogan still says she was his most difficult guest.

In 1967 she accepted the Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" on behalf of Elizabeth Taylor, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony.

Her mother outlived her by five years.

She taught English to Peruvian actress/singer Yma Sumac.

One of only nine actors to have won both the Tony and the Oscar for having portrayed the same roles on stage and screen. The others are Joel Grey (Cabaret (1972)), Shirley Booth (Reviens petite Sheba (1952)), Rex Harrison (My Fair Lady (1964)), Yul Brynner (Le roi et moi (1956)), Paul Scofield (Un homme pour l'éternité (1966)), José Ferrer (Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)), Jack Albertson (Trois étrangers (1968)) and Viola Davis (Fences (2016)).

Was a leading choice to play Aurora Greenway in Tendres passions (1983). The part went to Shirley MacLaine, who won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance.

Is one of 17 actresses to have won the Triple Crown of Acting (an Oscar, Emmy and Tony); the others in chronological order are Helen Hayes, Ingrid Bergman, Shirley Booth, Liza Minnelli, Rita Moreno, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Audrey Hepburn, Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith, Ellen Burstyn, Helen Mirren, Frances McDormand, Jessica Lange, Viola Davis and Glenda Jackson.

Presented the Academy Award to Sidney Poitier when he became the first African-American to win the Best Actor Oscar for Les Lys des champs (1963).

Like fellow five-time nominees Audrey Hepburn and Jennifer Jones, won the Best Actress Oscar on her first nomination, but did not win again on subsequent acting nominations.

Said that director Arthur Penn had the greatest impact on her career.

In 1963 she won her Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" against Geraldine Page. In 1986 it was Page who won the Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" beating out Bancroft, who was nominated for her performance in Agnès de Dieu (1985).

Has a street named after her in Iowa City, IA.

Suffered a pinched nerve, following an accident, while filming La Dernière Chasse (1956) and was replaced by Debra Paget.

She appeared in three films with Anthony Hopkins: Les griffes du lion (1972), Elephant Man (1980) and Poste restante (1987).

Has won two Tony Awards: in 1958, as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "Two for the Seesaw", and in 1960, as Best Actress (Dramatic) for "The Miracle Worker", a role she recreated in her Oscar-winning performance in the film version of the same name, Miracle en Alabama (1962). She was also Tony nominated in 1978 as Best Actress (Play) for "Golda", in which she played the title character, Golda Meir.

During her early career in TV, she called herself Anne Marno. Darryl F. Zanuck changed it when she signed with Fox.

Her first role was as star of the kindergarten play as Mama Bear in "The Three Little Bears.".

During her days as a radio actress she performed under the name Anne St. Raymond.

Was originally cast as Evelyn in Spanglish (2004) but pulled out of the movie when she was diagnosed with cancer and was replaced by Cloris Leachman.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6368 Hollywood Blvd.

Godmother of Dom DeLuise's youngest son David DeLuise.

Died at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.

Bought a brownstone apartment building at 260 West 11th Street in Manhattan for $96,000 because she got tired of paying exorbitant New York rents.

Graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan.

First husband Martin May was a lawyer from an oil-rich Texas family. Nine years Anne's senior, he died in 1982 at the age of 60.

Was in consideration for the role of Alice Hyatt in Alice n'est plus ici (1974). The part went to Ellen Burstyn, who won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance.

Parents: Michael (1905-2001) and Mildred (1907-2010).

Buried at the Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY.

In 1998 she made a special appearance at the The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) and participated in the Oscar Winners Tribute sequence along with other Academy Award winners.

Is one of 14 Best Actress Oscar winners to have not accepted their Academy Award in person, Bancroft's being for Miracle en Alabama (1962). The others are Katharine Hepburn, Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford, Judy Holliday, Vivien Leigh, Anna Magnani, Ingrid Bergman, Sophia Loren, Patricia Neal, Elizabeth Taylor, Maggie Smith, Glenda Jackson and Ellen Burstyn.

Appears in three Oscar Best Picture nominees: Le lauréat (1967), Le tournant de la vie (1977) and Elephant Man (1980).

Although she played Simon Ward's mother in Les griffes du lion (1972), she was only ten years his senior in real life.

Studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.

Attended Christopher Columbus High School in Bronx, New York where she graduated on an accelerated program.

Born in an apartment on St. Raymond Street, near the corner of Seddon Street and Maclay Avenue in the Bronx.

In 1993 she (together with Dustin Hoffman) accepted the Oscar for "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium" on behalf of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony.

Co-founded the Radcliffe Radio Players while in high school to perform condensed dramatizations on a Peekskill, New York radio station owned by a family friend.

Was engaged to John Ericson in 1951.