Michael Tell: The Man Who Was Hollywood legend Patty Duke's Husband for a Mere 13 Days Austinist - (2024)

The entertainment industry is full of bizarre and unusual things. Patty Duke’s second marriage is perhaps one of the strangest. She was married for 13 days (yes, you read that right) to Michael Tell.

So, who exactly is Michael Tell?

He’s a rock music promoter and the biological father of Lord of the Rings star, Sean Astin.

Read on to learn more about Michael Tell’s relationship with Patty Duke and the son that came of it. We’ve also included details about Michael Tell’s early life, career, net worth, and social media presence.

Who Is Michael Tell?

Michael Tell is a 73-year-old former rock music promoter. Although his career as a promoter left a significant mark on the industry, he’s most famous for being the ex-husband of Hollywood legend, Patty Duke.

Here are some basic facts about Michael Tell:

Michael Tell’s Early Life

It’s not often the case that you don’t know exactly when or where a celebrity was born, even if they’re a minor one – but surprisingly Michael Tell’s exact birthday is unknown. All we know is: he was born in 1950 on American soil.

The same shroud of mystery applies to his parents, education, and siblings – that’s if he has any. There simply isn’t any information available regarding these details of his life.

Here’s what we can confidently say about Michael Tell, though:

His passion for rock music developed at an early age, most likely during his time in high school.

His affinity for this music genre is what prompted him to forge a path into the industry as a promoter. And lucky for him, this decision changed his life in several ways.

For starters, it allowed him to make a great living doing what he loved. It was a big reason behind his entanglement with Patty Duke, who was one of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time.

Michael Tell’s Career

Although we don’t know much about the details of Michael Tell’s career as a promoter, we can all agree that he left a big mark on the rock music industry!

He organized and led the promotion of countless concerts and made numerous music events possible. He also managed multiple artists and helped them springboard their careers.

After being involved in the industry for decades, Michael Tell decided to call it quits in 2010 – which was upsetting considering his impact on the rock music scene, particularly the promotion aspect, is still felt today.

All of that pales in comparison to the fame and notoriety he received for his romantic involvement with Patty Duke though.

Michael Tell’s Relationship With Patty Duke

When Michael Tell and Patty Duke started seeing each other, it didn’t take long for them to take their relationship to the next level. In 1970, they decided to tie the knot.

Patty Duke’s decision to marry a man who was subletting her apartment and had only been in her life for a brief time left many people puzzled. Later on, it became clear that she wasn’t in a completely lucid state of mind when she made this impulsive decision.

You know what’s even crazier?

The actress married Michael Tell when she was already involved with two other men, Desi Arnaz Jr. and John Astin. Not only that, but she was also pregnant!

With these unusual circ*mstances looming, Michael and Patty’s marriage was doomed to fail before it even started. The marriage only lasted for 13 days, from June 26th, 1970 to July 9th, 1970.

Eight months later, Patty Duke gave birth to Sean Astin. The same Sean Astin, actor and director, you know and love today.

When Sean was born, his mother’s involvement with multiple men around the time she got pregnant with him raised questions about who the father was. Naturally, of course.

Patty initially told Sean that his father was John Astin, but then later told him that his real father was Desi Arnaz Jr.

Tired of the uncertainty, Sean decided to settle the matter once and for all in 1994. He got his DNA tested and the results showed that his real father was actually Michael Tell.

Patty Duke’s Career

Patty Duke’s real name was actually Anna Marie. Her managers gave her the name Patty because they felt it would help her career.

Well, they were right!

Following her acting debut on the TV show, Brighter Day, in 1958, Patty Duke’s fame and success skyrocketed. Throughout her life, she appeared in more than 140 movies and TV series.

Her most famous role was as Hellen Keller in The Miracle Worker, a 1962 biographical drama. Her performance was critically acclaimed and earned her both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

She also appeared as Billie Carol in the 1965 movie, Billie, and as Bernadette Hennessy Armagh in Captains and Kings, a 1976 TV show.

Patty’s massive fame as a Hollywood star put her personal life under a major spotlight. She was always the subject of gossip because she got married four times throughout her life. Her first marriage was to Harry Falk, which lasted from 1965 to 1969.

Then, it was Michael Tell’s turn. After her brief time with him, she waited two years before she tied the knot again, this time with John Astin. She stayed with him for 13 years before eventually getting a divorce in 1985.

Her final marriage was to Michael Pearce, a drill sergeant who remained her husband until the day she died.

Patty’s life was also plagued with mental health issues. She was officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1982. After her death due to sepsis from a perforated intestine in 2016, her son honored her by launching the Patty Duke Mental Health Initiative.

Michael Tell’s Son: Sean Astin

Sean Astin is a world-renowned actor who’s been in the industry for over four decades. He rose to stardom thanks to his role as Mikey in the legendary movie, Goonies in 1985. He closed out the 80s strong with roles in White Water Summer and Staying Together.

Astin continued his steady rise during the 90s with numerous movies, including the Academy Award-nominated 1998 film, Bulworth.

With the turn of the millennium, his fame rose to a whole new stratosphere when he starred as Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Younger folk probably know Sean Astin from his most recent role as Bob Newby in the hit TV series, Stranger Things.

Michael Tell’s Net Worth

Like many other aspects of Michael Tell’s life, his net worth remains a mystery too. It isn’t officially published, but we believe that it’s approximately $1 million.

Naturally, most of his wealth came from his long career as a rock music promoter.

Michael Tell’s Social Media Presence

Michael Tell’s social media presence is non-existent. This shouldn’t come as a surprise since he’s from an older generation. His lack of activity on social media is also a big reason why we don’t know much about what he’s up to these days.

His son, Sean Astin, does engage in social media though. He has an Instagram account with almost 600,000 followers and is also active on Twitter, having around 450,000 followers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions that people commonly have about Michael Tell:

Is Michael Tell still alive?

Yes, Michael Tell is still alive and well. We don’t know much about where he resides or what he’s up to because of how private he is.

Where did Michael Tell and Patty Duke get married?

Michael Tell and Patty Duke had their wedding ceremony at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas.

Have Michael Tell and Sean Astin met?

Many people wonder whether Sean Astin sought out Michael Tell after learning he was his biological father. The answer remains a mystery since neither of them has talked about it.

Conclusion

If you’ve been following Sean Astin since the 1990s, you probably know about the controversy surrounding who his father is.

This is where Michael Tell comes in. He was the second husband of Sean Astin’s mother, Patty Duke – whose marriage only lasted 13 days!

Apart from his relationship with Patty Duke and Sean Astin, Michael Tell is a long-time rock music promoter who retired in 2010. The 73-year-old is still alive, but we don’t know much about his life because he’s out of the public eye and inactive on social media.

What we do know for sure is that he’s lived quite a life!