Patty McCormack facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patty McCormack
McCormack in a photo release of the television series The New Breed, 1962
Born	Patricia Ellen Russo (1945-08-21) August 21, 1945 (age 79) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1951–present
Spouse(s)	Bob Catania ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1973)​
Children	2

Patty McCormack (born Patricia Ellen Russo on August 21, 1945) is an American actress. She has had a long career in movies, TV shows, and theater. She started acting when she was a child.

Patty McCormack is famous for playing Rhoda Penmark in the 1956 movie The Bad Seed. She was praised for her acting in this role. She even received a nomination for an Oscar! Throughout her career, she has played many different characters. These include Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker and Pat Nixon in the movie Frost/Nixon.

Early Life and Start in Acting

Patty McCormack was born in New York City. Her birth name was Patricia Ellen Russo. She started acting when she was very young. Her first movie role was in Two Gals and a Guy in 1951. She also appeared in the TV series Mama from 1953 to 1956.

Her big break came when she played Rhoda Penmark in The Bad Seed. She first played this role on Broadway. Later, she starred in the movie version. Her performance was so good that she was nominated for an Oscar. This is a very high honor in the film world.

Growing Up on Screen

The cast of Peck's Bad Girl: From left: Wendell Corey, McCormack, Ray Farrell, Marsha Hunt

After The Bad Seed, Patty McCormack continued to act. In 1957, she played Helen Keller in a TV show called Playhouse 90. This was a very important role. She also starred in her own TV show, Peck's Bad Girl, in 1959.

She appeared in movies like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In the early 1960s, she acted in movies for teenagers. These included The Explosive Generation and The Young Runaways. She also made guest appearances on popular TV shows like Rawhide.

Later Career and TV Roles

Patty McCormack (right) in 1962, in the TV show Young Doctor Malone

As Patty McCormack grew older, she continued to work a lot in television. She appeared in many well-known TV series. These included Dallas, Murder, She Wrote, and The Sopranos. She also had a regular role as Anne Brookes in the TV comedy The Ropers.

In 2008, she played Pat Nixon, the First Lady, in the movie Frost/Nixon. Patty McCormack is still acting today. In 2018, she returned to the world of The Bad Seed. She played a child psychiatrist in the 2018 TV remake of the movie. This was a special nod to her famous role from when she was a child. She also joined the cast of the soap opera General Hospital for a short time.

Awards and Recognition

Patty McCormack has received awards for her acting. She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in The Bad Seed. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for the same movie.

In 1960, when she was just 15 years old, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This made her the youngest person ever to get a star on the Walk of Fame at that time. It shows how talented she was from a very young age.

Selected Film and TV Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Patty McCormack para niños

• List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees