Some friends cited Bancroft's devotion to Brooks as an illustration of her own natural gift for laughing and making others laugh. "You don't marry Mel Brooks," Penn said, "if you don't have a sense of humor."
But even when Bancroft put family first, the credits kept coming. She segued easily from leading lady to character actress.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday June 09, 2005 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 46 words Type of Material: Correction
Bancroft obituary -- The obituary of actress Anne Bancroft in Wednesday's Section A said she earned an Emmy in 1970 for the special "Annie -- The Woman in the Life of Men." In fact, the title was "Annie, The Women in the Life of a Man."
Films included John Ford's final motion picture, "7 Women" in 1966, "Silent Movie" with Brooks in 1976 and "To Be or Not to Be" again with Brooks in 1983, along with "Garbo Talks,' " 'Night, Mother," "84 Charing Cross Road," "Torch Song Trilogy" and "How to Make an American Quilt."
She dabbled in writing and directing, as in the 1980 film "Fatso," but acting was her metier.
She earned an Emmy in 1970 for her special "Annie -- The Woman in the Life of Men" and starred in some memorable television plays, including "Mrs. Cage" and Neil Simon's "Broadway Bound," both in 1992, and "The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All" in 1994.
Bancroft also remained faithful to the stage, where she began and where she emerged as an important actress.
Other Broadway appearances included "The Little Foxes," "A Cry of Players," "Duet for One," and the off-Broadway production of "The Occupant" in 2002.
The lights on Broadway will dim Tuesday night prior to curtain in Bancroft's honor.
She is survived by Brooks, her husband of 41 years; their son, Max; her mother, Mildred Italiano; two sisters, Phyllis and Joanne, and one grandson, Henry. Funeral services will be private. The family has asked that any memorial donations be sent to the American Cancer Society.
Times staff writers Elaine Dutka, Chris Lee, Rene Lynch, Mary McNamara and Robert W. Welkos contributed to this report.
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Bancroft's films
Moving to Broadway productions after early work consisting of movies such as "Gorilla at Large," the actress returned to the screen in 1962 with "The Miracle Worker." The following is a selection of films in which Anne Bancroft appeared:
"Up at the Villa," 2000
"Antz," 1998
"How to Make an American Quilt," 1995
"Rigby, You're a Fool," 1989
"Torch Song Trilogy," 1988
"84 Charing Cross Road," 1987
" 'Night, Mother," 1986
"Agnes of God," 1985
"Garbo Talks," 1984
"To Be or Not to Be," 1983
"The Elephant Man," 1980
"Fatso," 1980
"The Turning Point," 1977
"Lipstick," 1976
"Young Winston," 1972
"The Graduate," 1967
"7 Women," 1966
"The Slender Thread," 1965
"The Pumpkin Eater," 1964
"The Miracle Worker," 1962
"Nightfall," 1957
"The Restless Breed," 1957
"The Girl in Black Stockings," 1957
"New York Confidential," 1955
"Demetrius and the Gladiators," 1954
"The Raid," 1954
"Gorilla at Large," 1954
"The Kid From Left Field," 1953
"Treasure of the Golden Condor," 1953
"Tonight We Sing," 1953
"Don't Bother to Knock," 1952
Source: Internet Movie Database, Associated Press
Los Angeles Times
