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How Patty Duke Impacted Son Sean Astin’s Perception of Mental Health

Photo via ESPN on Twitter

How Patty Duke Impacted Son Sean Astin’s Perception of Mental Health

By Tess Farrand, Associate Content Editor

Christian actor Sean Astin (RUDY, LORD OF THE RINGS) recently opened up about how his mother, Patty Duke, impacted his views on mental health.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Astin got candid about Duke’s public battle with bipolar disorder.

“The pain that my family endured because we were living with someone with a mental health condition actually has become an important ingredient to my being able to offer support to other people,” said Astin.

PEOPLE reported, “Duke first shared her bipolar diagnosis with the world in her 1987 memoir, Call Me Anna, and worked to raise awareness for mental health until her death.”

Duke (THE PATTY DUKE SHOW) won one Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards

Duke was also a passionate mental health advocate.

Fox News said, “Over the years, she candidly wrote about her experience, including in a 1992 memoir “A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic-Depressive Illness.”

Duke died in 2016 of a a ruptured intestine.

Her tireless work left an impact on her son, who has appeared in multiple movies with faith and family content.

Astin was nominated for a Grace Prize® at the 2016 Movieguide® Awards for his role in WOODLAWN. The actor uses his faith to talk about mental health with his family.

“We share our feelings. If someone has an issue, there’s no judgment,” said Astin. “These conversations don’t have to be laden with guilt or shame or fear or judgment.”

Astin will participate in the Well Beings Town Hall campaign on PBS on July 14 in order to bring awareness to youth and metal health.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.