Anne Bancroft was dead in 1987.
Anna Maria Louisa Italiano ( September 17 , 1931 -- June 6 , 2005 ) , known professionally as Anne Bancroft , was an American actress associated with the method acting school , having studied under Lee Strasberg . She appeared in several movies directed or produced by her second husband , comedian Mel Brooks , including the award-winning drama The Elephant Man as well as comedies To Be or Not to Be and Dracula : Dead and Loving It .