Anne Bancroft (born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano; September 17, 1931) was an acclaimed American actress and director. Known for her versatility and acting prowess, Bancroft achieved the Triple Crown of Acting, a feat only accomplished by 24 thespians. Associated with method acting technique, she studied under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. Her film debut was in a noir thriller, Don't Bother to Knock, in 1952, and over the course of five years, she appeared in 14 other films. Bancroft's career found its second wind on stage with her Broadway debut in 1958. Consequentially, she received renewed attention from the film industry when cast in the film adaptation of The Miracle Worker (1962), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. Bancroft's later works included roles in Jesus of Nazareth (1977), The Elephant Man (1980), and 84 Charing Cross Road (1987). Her TV work earned her several Primetime Emmy nominations and she passed away in 2005 from uterine cancer at the age of 73. She was married to director, actor, and writer Mel Brooks, with whom she had a son, author Max Brooks.