Quotes

[on her wardrobe on The Patty Duke Show (1963)] Not only did I hate those clothes, but they put my name on some and successfully merchandised them, so a lot of other poor girls were walking around with the same ugly clothes I had to wear.

I've beaten my own bad system, and on some days, most days, that feels like a miracle.

I subscribe to the theory that says you're a product of all your experiences. And I am finally, most of the time, happy with the product. I now think it is OK to be Patty Duke.

[speaking of son Sean Astin and his role in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy] We call that Sean's little independent movie.

For the first time, I lived alone... in a luxury apartment on Sunset Strip. For a few days I loved the idea, but I got lonely and restless.

From the time Sean [son Sean Astin] was born, until I was diagnosed, I was murder to live with. I don't think I was marriage material at all until seven years ago.

A lot of us were under the impression that there is only one Sign Language and that it is international!

Actors take risks all the time. We put ourselves on the line. It is creative to be able to interpret someone's words and breathe life into them.

As the boys grew up, my manias took the form of irritability and unpredictable flashes of rage. It was intense.

[on where she keeps her Oscar] Oscar was a doorstop; Oscar was in the basement. I went through a period of false humility. I thought if I had Oscar out people would think I was full of myself. Now Oscar is in a beautiful etagere near my front door.

[on her plans to speak out about her bypass operation, despite advice not to] My agent may say ix-nay on the bypass but I can't; that's me. It's more important for me to be myself.