NEW YORK (AP) — Patty Duke, who won an Oscar as a teen for "The Miracle Worker" and maintained a long and successful career throughout her life, has died at the age of 69. 
 
 Duke's agent, Mitchell Stubbs, says the actress died early Tuesday morning of sepsis from a ruptured intestine. 
 
 She built on her success in teenhood by playing identical cousins on a popular sitcom, "The Patty Duke Show." ||||| Patty Duke Dead at 69 
 
 Patty Duke Dies at 69 
 
 Breaking News 
 
 Hollywood legend Patty Duke -- who won an Oscar for playing Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" -- has died. 
 
 She was 69. 
 
 Duke passed away at 1:20 AM Tuesday morning. She died from sepsis due to a ruptured intestine. 
 
 Duke's son, Sean Astin, said the family is "relieved" because Duke was in a lot of pain and the process took a long time to play out. 
 
 Duke's family issued a statement, saying, "This morning, our beloved wife, mother, matriarch and the exquisite artist, humanitarian, and champion for mental health, Anna Patty Duke Pearce, closed her eyes, quieted her pain and ascended to a beautiful place." 
 
 "We celebrate the infinite love and compassion she shared through her work and throughout her life." 
 
 Duke was a child star -- winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at 16 years old in 1963. 
 
 She was married 4 times ... including to actor John Astin -- the father of "Lord of the Rings" star Sean Astin. 
 
 Duke is survived by her husband, Michael Pearce, and her 3 kids.
– Actress Patty Duke is dead at age 69, reports TMZ. Though she won an Oscar at 16 for her portrayal of Helen Keller in the Miracle Worker, Duke might be better known for her starring role in the 1960s sitcom, the Patty Duke Show, in which she played identical cousins. Her Oscar, meanwhile, was for best supporting actress. She went on to have a long career in film, TV, and on Broadway—see this list for highlights. Duke is survived by three kids, one of them being Lord of the Rings actor Sean Astin. Her agent says the cause of death is sepsis from a ruptured intestine, reports the AP.