Bancroft Family History & Genealogy

Anne Bancroft Born September 17, 1931 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA Died June 6, 2005 in New York City, New York, USA (uterine cancer) Birth Name Anna Maria Louise Italiano Mini Bio (1) Anne Bancroft was born on September 17, 1931 in the Bronx, the daughter of Michael Italiano (1905-2001), a dress pattern maker, and Mildred DiNapoli (1908-2010), a telephone operator. By 1957 she had grown dissatisfied with the roles she was getting, left the film industry and spent the next five years doing plays on Broadway. She returned to the screen in 1962 with her portrayal of Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker (1962), for which she won an Oscar. Bancroft went on to give acclaimed performances in The Pumpkin Eater (1964), The Slender Thread (1965), Young Winston (1972), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975), The Elephant Man (1980), To Be or Not to Be (1983), 84 Charing Cross Road (1987) and other movies as lead actress, but her most famous role would be as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate (1967). Her status as the predatory "older woman" in the film is iconic, although in real life she was just 36 and only six years older than co-star Dustin Hoffman. Mel Brooks (5 August 1964 - 6 June 2005) ( her death) (1 child, Max) Martin A. May (1 July 1953 - 13 February 1957) ( divorced) 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. Graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. She and Mel Brooks married at New York City Hall, where a passer-by served as their witness. Nieces: Julie and Teresa. Said that director Arthur Penn had the greatest impact on her career. Parents: Michael (1905-2001) and Mildred (1908-2010). Sisters: Joanne (older) and Phyllis (younger) Son with Mel Brooks: Max Brooks, born 1972. She became the 15th performer to win the Triple Crown of acting. Oscar: Best Actress, The Miracle Worker (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). [1999] 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 (Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)), Rex Harrison (My Fair Lady (1964)), Yul Brynner (The King and I (1956)), Paul Scofield (A Man for All Seasons (1966)), José Ferrer (Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)), Jack Albertson (The Subject Was Roses (1968)) and Viola Davis (Fences (2016)). 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, The Miracle Worker (1962). She was also Tony nominated in 1978 as Best Actress (Play) for "Golda", in which she played the title character, Golda Meir. Accepted the Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" on behalf of Elizabeth Taylor, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony. [1967] 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. [1993] Grandson, Henry Michael Brooks, born. [March 2005] 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. [1987] Was only 8 years older than Katharine Ross, who played her daughter in The Graduate (1967). Bancroft's character is said to be "twice as old" as Dustin Hoffman but in real life she was only 6 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. She, Mel Brooks and their son Max Brooks all are Emmy-winners. Her performance as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate (1967) is ranked #47 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. Was in consideration for the role of Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest (1981), which went to Faye Dunaway. In 1963, she won her Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" against fellow contender 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 Agnes of God (1985). Said that for many years after doing The Graduate (1967), young men would tell her that she was the first woman they had sexual fantasies about. 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. [1998] At her memorial service in New York City, Paul Simon sang "Mrs. Robinson" and she was eulogized by her The Miracle Worker (1962) co-star Patty Duke. [June 2005] Godmother of Alan Yentob's children. Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 29-31. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007. Has a street named after her in Iowa City, Iowa. Godmother of Dom DeLuise's youngest son David DeLuise. Stepmother of Stephanie Brooks, Nicky Brooks and Eddie Brooks. She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City. Is one of 17 actresses to have won the Triple Crown of Acting (an Oscar, Emmy and Tony) Was in consideration for the role of Alice Hyatt in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974). The part went to Ellen Burstyn, who won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance. Turned down the role of Annie Haworth in The Birds (1963). The part went to Suzanne Pleshette, who received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6368 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Is one of 3 actresses to have won the Best Actress Academy Award for their portrayal of a character named "Annie". She Is one of 14 Best Actress Oscar winners to have not accepted their Academy Award in person, Bancroft's being for The Miracle Worker (1962). Her first role was as star of the kindergarten play as Mama Bear in "The Three Little Bears.". She taught English to Peruvian actress/singer Yma Sumac. During her early career in TV, she called herself Anne Marno. Darryl F. Zanuck changed it when she signed with Fox. Bancroft suffered a pinched nerve, following an accident, while filming The Last Hunt (1956) and was replaced by Debra Paget. Presented the Academy Award to Sidney Poitier when he became the first African American to win the Best Actor Oscar for Lilies of the Field (1963) (Santa Monica Civic Auditorium / April 13, 1964). Although she played Simon Ward's mother in Young Winston (1972), she was only ten years his senior in real life. Is one of 22 Oscar-winning actresses to have been born in the state of New York. She appeared in three films with Anthony Hopkins: Young Winston (1972), The Elephant Man (1980) and 84 Charing Cross Road (1987). Survived breast cancer in the early '80s. Attended Christopher Columbus High School in Bronx, New York where she graduated on an accelerated program. 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. First husband Martin A. May was from an oil-rich Texas family and was a law student at University of Southern California. 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. 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. Appears in three Oscar Best Picture nominees: The Graduate (1967), The Turning Point (1977) and The Elephant Man (1980). I was at a point where I was ready to say, "I am what I am because of what I am and if you like me I'm grateful, and if you don't, what am I going to do about it?" Life is here only to be lived so that we can, through life, earn the right to death, which to me is paradise. Whatever it is that will bring me the reward of paradise, I'll do the best I can. When [Mel Brooks] told his Jewish mother he was marrying an Italian girl, she said: "Bring her over. I'll be in the kitchen - with my head in the oven". On being married to Mel Brooks] When he comes home at night and I hear his key in the lock, I say to myself, "Oh good! The party's about to begin".

George Bancroft died in 2008. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember George Bancroft.

Ann (Messina) Bancroft was married to George Bancroft, and died in 1985. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ann Bancroft.

Seymour Bancroft was born on March 19, 1949 in Port Jefferson, Suffolk County, New York United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Seymour Bancroft.

Julie (Ritzer) Bancroft was born on February 27, 1952 at Ozone Park in Queens County, New York United States. She was married to Seymour Bancroft on November 7, 1970 at St. John’s Church in Riverhead, Suffolk County, and had a child Jonathan Bancroft. Julie Bancroft died at age 71 years old on December 5, 2023. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Julie Bancroft.

Jack Bancroft of Hebron, Tolland County, CT was born on January 14, 1923 in Channel Islands or England or Great Britain or Isle Of Man or Northern Ireland or Scotland or Wales, and died at age 87 years old on June 10, 2010.

Jack L Bancroft of Webster, Monroe County, NY was born on April 3, 1921, and died at age 76 years old on March 27, 1998.

Harvey G Bancroft of Oneida, Madison County, NY was born on August 12, 1918, and died at age 77 years old on February 15, 1996.

Clyde A Bancroft of Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, OH was born on September 17, 1917, and died at age 82 years old on June 26, 2000.

Otis Ira Bancroft of Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, Ohio was born on July 13, 1924, and died at age 84 years old on April 16, 2009.

Donald E Bancroft of South Windsor, Hartford County, CT was born on January 5, 1927, and died at age 73 years old on May 25, 2000.

Donald I Bancroft of Lansing, Ingham County, MI was born on January 24, 1921, and died at age 71 years old on December 12, 1992.

Earl L Bancroft of Ferndale, Oakland County, Michigan was born on April 15, 1918, and died at age 69 years old in December 1987.

Harold W Bancroft of Park Ridge, Cook County, Illinois was born on October 9, 1909, and died at age 62 years old in December 1971.

Walter E Bancroft of Janesville, Rock County, WI was born on December 16, 1916, and died at age 72 years old on July 25, 1989.

Walter A Bancroft of Jamestown, Chautauqua County, NY was born on December 21, 1919, and died at age 87 years old on July 28, 2007.

Dwight A Bancroft of Eureka, Humboldt County, California was born on August 23, 1906, and died at age 77 years old in December 1983.

Pauline M Bancroft of Borger, Hutchinson County, TX was born on May 17, 1925. Pauline Bancroft was married to Philip Lamar Bancroft on May 11, 1968 in Hutchinson County, TX, and died at age 68 years old on February 15, 1994.

Douglas Bancroft of Langhorne, Bucks County, PA was born on December 30, 1916, and died at age 89 years old on June 29, 2006.

Ronald P Bancroft of Falmouth, Cumberland County, ME was born on April 27, 1913 in British North America or Canada or Labrador or Newfoundland, and died at age 69 years old in August 1982.